3 December 2012 Immaculate Conception Novena “Blessed art thou, O Virgin Mary, by the Lord, the most High God, above all women upon the earth.” (Judith 13:23) Day 4 -- Cause of Our Joy “Lord our God, you brought joy into the world through the Incarnation of your Son. Grant we, who honor his Mother, the cause of our joy, may always abide by your commandments with hearts set on true and lasting joy in you.” (‘Prayer over the Gifts’, Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary, ‘Cause of our joy’ ) Authentic happiness comes from God. All of Our Lord’s gifts reach us wrapped in joy. Almighty God’s whole act of creating the world out of nothing was a celebration, particularly man’s creation in the image of God. The Creation account in “Genesis” concludes -- “God saw all that he made and it was very good” (1:31). Our first parents enjoyed everything in fullness of love: praising and giving thanks to God. They were never sad. After the first sin, though, misery crept into their hearts and replaced the serene delight, God’s original gift. The Immaculate Conception silently caused the first new spark of authentic joy in the world. Christ is our principal reason for happiness. He removes every trace of sadness from our hearts. Our Lady, truly the ‘Cause of our joy’, by her cooperation in our salvation makes possible our daily experience of Christ’s presence. She continues to offer her Son to the Father for our sake. Our interior life aims at union with Jesus through Mary. Our most profound joy lies in this union, especially amidst sufferings and contradictions. Losing intimacy with the Lord would be reason for true sorrow. Mary teaches us how to bring joy to others. The Blessed Virgin can show us how to be the cause of joy for others: in our family, at our work place and in all our social contacts; in our most casual encounters with acquaintances. Our cheerfulness comes to bear in our cordial relations with others, especially amidst adverse circumstances. Normally, water comes to the faucet from a reservoir. Our source of joy is God to whom the Blessed Virgin leads us. If water does not flow, it gets stagnant and can become polluted. The same occurs with someone who ceases to be a cause of peace for others. “You are unhappy? Think: There must be an obstacle between God and you. You will seldom be wrong.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 662) Once we discover the reason for our discontent, Our Lady will help us to remedy whatever must be set right. St Thomas teaches: “Authentic joy is born of love.” (“Summa Theologiae”, 2 q2 a28) The power of affection is so great that we forget our own happiness in order to make the people we love happy. Whenever we aim to please God, even if our tasks are wearisome, they will never be bitter, but sweet. (cf St Theresa, “Foundations”, 5, 10) Having recourse to Jesus makes us ignore minor differences of opinion. We will then reach the heart of people who are often longing for a smile, a friendly word or a cordial answer. Complete confidence in God is also a necessary condition. Whoever worries too much about his personal affairs will not easily find the genuine happiness which causes us to be united to God and to other people. Our joy will then provide one more opportunity for others to encounter the Lord. Prayer prepares us to be open to the grace of God. With this powerful source of help we can accept any difficulty. We leave whatever is bothering us in God’s hands. Our personal conversation with God can help us make a good Confession if lukewarmness and sin, the real causes of our sadness and ill-humour begin to take root in our soul. We finish our prayer by seeking the help of the Blessed Virgin: “‘Cause of our joy. Pray for us.’ Teach us how to resolve in our own lives the paradox of Christian joy which is born and flourishes in suffering, renunciation and union with your crucified Son. May our cheerfulness always be true and complete, so that we are able to share our joy with those we meet every day.” (John Paul II, “Address”, 31 May 1979) Let us offer our Mother in heaven the firm resolve to reject sadness in all its forms, and to strive to be the cause of peace and joy for people everywhere. Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 7:296-302 Spirit-Led Prayer Wherever people are praying in the world, there the Holy Spirit is, the living breath of prayer ... Prayer is also the revelation of that abyss which is the heart of man: a depth which comes from God and which only God can fill, precisely with the Holy Spirit. We read in Luke, “If you, with all your sins, know how to give your children good things, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him” (11:13) ... The Holy Spirit is the gift that comes into man’s hearts together with prayer. In prayer he manifests himself first of all and above all as the gift that 'helps us in our weakness'. This is the magnificent thought developed by St Paul in the “Letter to the Romans”, when he writes: “For we do not know how to pray as we ought; but the Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words” (8:26). Ref: Cf “Pope John Paul II, Breakfast with the Pope”, 1984, 16 St Francis Xavier Born in the castle of Xavier, Spain. He studied in Paris, there met St Ignatius Loyola. Among the first members of the Society of Jesus. Ordained in Rome; left for the orient, and for 10 years evangelized India and Japan. He died in China in 1552. “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” (Mk 8:36) These words led St Francis Xavier to a radical change of life. He valued his immortal soul, and that of others, ever since he lived for Christ. Zeal for souls dominated his passion, ready to give his very life to Christ to win their salvation. Our own hearts may be inflamed with this same ardent concern for souls. Ordinarily, the Lord wants us to practise this virtue in our everyday ordinary circumstances -- in the family, at work or recreation, etc. Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 7:289 • Our Lady of Filerma, near Malta. This image having remained in the midst of the ruins of the Church of St. Mark of Rhodes, was removed into the Church of St. Catharine, and finally, the knights having quitted Rhodes, it was placed in the Church of St. Lawrence, and this having been entirely burnt down, the image remained entire.— (Triple Couronne, n. 91.) “Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar (www.bethlehemobserver.com) • Our Lady of Filerma. near Malta. ... (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html) • Our Lady of Victories. (Victory). Paris, France. 1836.(www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html); (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (http://mariedenazareth.com)