The week beginning 20 th May So your

The week beginning 20 th May "So your strength is failing you? Why don't you tell your mother about it? … Mother! Call her with a loud voice. She is listening to you; she sees you in danger, perhaps, and she, your holy mother Mary, offers you, along with the grace of her son, the refuge of her arms, the tenderness of her embrace … and you will find yourself with added strength for the new battle. " - St. Josemaria Escriva

The definition of strength is ‘the quality or state of being physically strong or the capacity of an object or substance to withstand great force or pressure. ’ We often think of strength being physical, the strongest people can carry heavy weights and have a multitude of muscles. But some of the strongest people, including the Mother Mary, are the people who have inner strength. For some it comes naturally and for others they have to work for it, but it is something we should cherish and strive to not only use, but to shine for others to see. Let us reflect; How can you shine your inner strength towards other people today?

Let us Pray: Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, hail our life our sweetness and our hope. To you do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to you do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy towards us; and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen

The week beginning 20 th May (Tuesday) "So your strength is failing you? Why don't you tell your mother about it? … Mother! Call her with a loud voice. She is listening to you; she sees you in danger, perhaps, and she, your holy mother Mary, offers you, along with the grace of her son, the refuge of her arms, the tenderness of her embrace … and you will find yourself with added strength for the new battle. " - St. Josemaria Escriva

Michelle La Rosa from the Catholic News Agency speaks about Mary saying; “How did she take that ‘yes’ from the Annunciation and carry that through in every moment of her life? She had to renew that ‘yes’ when she was being told, ‘Your heart will be pierced with a sword. ’ She has to renew that ‘yes’ when she’s trying to find Jesus and can’t find him. She has to renew that ‘yes’ when she’s 9 months pregnant and has to travel on a donkey…to somewhere there’s nowhere for her to stay. ” It is because she had understanding of knowing what her vocation was, to be a wife and a mother. She stood strong to fulfil what she was called to be. Each one of us is called to be a disciple in our own way, called by our vocation. When we follow that call we have faith in the firm plan God has for us because he is omniscient.

Let us pray this morning to listen to our call to our vocation and ask Mary to intercede for us as we say; 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.

The week beginning 20 th May (Wednesday) "So your strength is failing you? Why don't you tell your mother about it? … Mother! Call her with a loud voice. She is listening to you; she sees you in danger, perhaps, and she, your holy mother Mary, offers you, along with the grace of her son, the refuge of her arms, the tenderness of her embrace … and you will find yourself with added strength for the new battle. " - St. Josemaria Escriva

Hermits lived on Mount Carmel near the Fountain of Elijah in northern Israel in the 12 th century. They had a chapel dedicated to Our Lady. By the 13 th century they became known as “Brothers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. ” They soon celebrated a special Mass and Office in honour of Mary. In 1726, it became a celebration of the universal Church under the title of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. For centuries the Carmelites have seen themselves as specially related to Mary. Their great saints and theologians have promoted devotion to her and often championed the mystery of her Immaculate Conception. Saint Teresa of Avila called Carmel “the Order of the Virgin. ” Saint John of the Cross credited Mary with saving him from drowning as a child, leading him to Carmel, and helping him escape from prison. Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus believed that Mary cured her from illness. On her First Communion day, Thérèse dedicated her life to Mary. During the last days of her life she frequently spoke of Mary. There is a tradition—which may not be historical—that Mary appeared to Saint Simon Stock, a leader of the Carmelites, and gave him a scapular, telling him to promote devotion to it. The scapular is a modified version of Mary’s own garment. It symbolises her special protection and calls the wearers to consecrate themselves to her in a special way. The scapular reminds us of the gospel call to prayer and penance—a call that Mary models in a splendid way.

The Carmelites were known from early on as “Brothers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. ” The title suggests that they saw Mary not only as “mother, ” but also as “sister. ” The word sister is a reminder that Mary is very close to us. She is the daughter of God and therefore can help us be authentic daughters and sons of God. She can also help us grow in appreciation of being sisters and brothers to one another. She leads us to a new realisation that all human beings belong to the family of God. When such a conviction grows, there is hope that the human race can find its way to peace. Let us Pray O dearest Mother, I pray that through your most powerful intercession my heart may be filled with Holy Hope, so that in life's darkest hour I may never fail to trust in God my Saviour, but by walking in the way of His commandments I may merit to be united with Him, and with you in the eternal joys of Heaven. Amen.

The week beginning 20 th May (Thursday) "So your strength is failing you? Why don't you tell your mother about it? … Mother! Call her with a loud voice. She is listening to you; she sees you in danger, perhaps, and she, your holy mother Mary, offers you, along with the grace of her son, the refuge of her arms, the tenderness of her embrace … and you will find yourself with added strength for the new battle. " - St. Josemaria Escriva

Read this piece of scripture and reflect on what this means to you

Mary had a incredible life which included both joy and sorrow. She sought refuge in the Lord, knowing that he had a plan for her. We should follow in her wisdom and seek refuge in the Lord especially in those times when we are struggling. Let us pray: Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord God, that we, your servants, may enjoy perpetual health of mind and body; and by the intercession of the Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, may be delivered from present sorrow, and obtain eternal joy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The week beginning 20 th May (Friday) "So your strength is failing you? Why don't you tell your mother about it? … Mother! Call her with a loud voice. She is listening to you; she sees you in danger, perhaps, and she, your holy mother Mary, offers you, along with the grace of her son, the refuge of her arms, the tenderness of her embrace … and you will find yourself with added strength for the new battle. " - St. Josemaria Escriva

Sometimes we forget that beauty is not just in someone's looks and what they own, but in who they are the what they have had to overcome. During this half term break, let us seek to find the inner beauty in each other and to praise those whose strength is their beauty.

Let us Pray; O Mary, Mother of God, you were foretold by the prophets, foreshadowed by the patriarchs in types and figures, described by the Evangelists, and saluted most graciously by the Angels. Lead us to the wisdom of the Presence of God now and forever, Amen