Week 2, Day 5
Daily Prayer
The Angelus
V. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
R. And she conceived by the Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary, full of grace,
The Lord is with thee;
Blessed art thou among women,
And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners,
Now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
R. Be it done unto me according to thy word.
Hail Mary, etc.
V. And the Word was made Flesh.
R. And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary, etc.
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
LET US PRAY
Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts, that we to whom the Incarnation of Christ Thy Son was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection. Through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Mary, Cause of Our Joy
Scripture Reading from the Gospel of Luke 1:39-45 – The Visitation
How did Elizabeth know Mary was pregnant? Answers may vary, and sacred scripture does not tell us; but we can infer from the deep prayer life of Elizabeth and Zechariah that she was probably prompted by the Holy Spirit to greet Mary in this way.
Interesting observation: Jesus blessed John in his mother’s womb, and that may be why John leapt for joy.
Serving God in Faith
Mary becomes the servant of God, more than all those who went before her in the Old Testament, more than Abraham, Moses, David, or John the Baptist. Her fiat made her the perfect servant of God. She became the mother of the Savior, giving Him her flesh and blood; she was “all in.”
How much do you want to give in serving God? Would you give yourself completely to Him, body and soul, if He called you to? How much do you want to give in serving God? Many saints have given all for God; and Mary surely helped them to make this ultimate sacrifice, to be witnesses to the love of God.
Serving God means being His instrument and doing His work in the world. He wants to work in and through us, to help other people when they need help, and to teach them about who God is and how much He loves all of us. He wants us to help Him! First, we pray in our hearts, “Jesus, I give you everything I am. Do with me whatever You wish for the glory of God the Father.” Then, we apply ourselves to whatever Jesus has called us to do, and we try to help those He puts in our path.
Do you believe in God, do you trust in Him completely, are you willing to do anything He asks you to do? If the answer is yes, can you prove it by your actions. Would others be able to look at your life and see enough evidence to prove that you love God with your whole heart?
How can you serve God in your family? Answers will vary. Serving others in your family. Obeying your parents the first time they ask you to do something or stop doing something. Helping without being asked. Sharing your toys and favorite foods with others.
Mary let God consume her whole life; she was the handmaid of the Lord, and her life and her actions were proof of this.
What do you think God will ask you to do when you grow up?
Daily Pious Practice Reminder
- Choose a verse from the bible to read and think about each day.
Closing Prayer
Eternal and All-Powerful Father, by her fiat, Mary became the handmaid of the Lord. Grant that, by the intercession of our gentle Mother, our contemplation of the word might overflow into a life of humble service to our brothers. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Visitation
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