The explosion of pure love in the heart of FrancisPrayer before the Crucifix (OrCr)


High, glorious God!enlighten the darkness of my heart.Give me true faith, certain hope and perfect charity;wisdom and knowledge, O Lord,to fulfill your holy and true command. Amen.

BIBLE TEXT TO REFLECT

"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, she's pregnant and bear a son, and will call him by the name Immanuel. " (Isaiah 7:14)In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary.And came to her and said: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you.She was deeply disturbed by these words and pondered what sort of greeting.The angel said, Fear not, Mary, for you have found favor with God, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father; reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end. Mary said to the angel, How shall this be, since I am a virgin? The angel answered, The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore the one to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. (Lk 1.26 to 35).

It is a grace of God to all the children of Francis's devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary that our Seraphic Father has given us. It is not only a romantic and external piety but must transform the interior of every son of Francisco. The deep Marian devotion and piety Saint of Assisi is evident from the time of his conversion: Bernard of Quintavalle, who sometimes stayed at home, observing their behavior, "he saw spend nights in prayer, sleeping very little and praising the Lord and the glorious Virgin Mother, and thought, full of admiration: "Really, this man is a man of God" (2Cel., 24).

So first we have a teacher of prayer, but beyond that, we have a loving heart. Yes a heart in love with the most beautiful that God could give humanity after Christ: Mary. Who certainly, God loved with singular predilection. The pure virgin. Its purity was such that God chose her to be the Mother of his Son, the Holy Spirit Wife and Mother of the Church. The Virgin full of grace. And why would not he be if carried within itself all the Lord's Spirit at work within them to say "yes" to a project plan that God had for her. Mother of the Church. If your Son Jesus Christ is the cornerstone where stands throughout and is joined to the glory of God here on earth, Mary will be the mother of the whole Church and therefore the end of the road of the Cross Jesus Christ in the midst of the pain of his agony, but especially in the midst of scorching love for humanity gives us as our Mother. What have we had great love and Jesus must have us to give us his Mother as our Mother! Let's focus on this love as pure and virginal Francisco for the Mother of God. And also try to approach us with a clean and pure heart let us ask Mary for us the grace to love and serve Jesus Christ faithfully and steady as she did.

Especially love the "Poverello of Assisi" felt by the mother of the Son of God manifested at an early stage of his conversion, but somehow in the choice of living in the Portiuncula, "a little church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin : an old building, but then completely neglected and abandoned. When the man of God saw so abandoned, pushed by his fervent devotion to the Queen of the world, made his home there, intending to repair it. often there enjoyed the Angels visit, as seemed to indicate the name of the church itself, called from Old St. Mary of the Angels. therefore chosen as the residence for his veneration of the angels and their special love for the Mother of Christ "(L. Mayor, II, 8).

Francis loved this place so special, loved him "more than all the other places in the world. Here, indeed, met the humble beginnings, it progressed in the virtues, happily reached the goal here. Upon death recommended this place to the monks, as the most beloved of the Virgin "(Ibid.)," because I wanted the Order of Friars Minor grow and develop under the protection of the Mother of God, where, by merit of it , had its origin "(L.Mayor, III, 5).
 
The author of the life of S. Clara added: "This is the place where famous began the new army of the poor, led by Francisco, so it became clear that it was the Mother of Mercy that gave birth at home on either Order"(SClara, 8).
Notice that so fine and elegant the early biographers of San Francisco to make ourselves known as a watermark how extraordinary spiritual experience Francisco from its beginnings to the end of his earthly life and is still growing to this day Today in this small and great treasure of Santa Maria degli Angeli. Francisco did not want their material form, but also for being small and humble, truly the Mother of Jesus, but not only that, but because there used to meet the most exalted characters eternally praising and glorifying God. This is what makes it special predilection Francisco love with that place, but he loves above all and above all because it is built in honor of Mary the Mother of God.Specifically the love and affection for Mary Francis also manifest in the Salute to the Blessed Virgin Mary, hymn of praise that extols the divine motherhood, work of God, TriuneThis is very important: if Francis extols the holiness of Mary, he does recognize and over-praising the holiness of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. So Francisco recognizes that what Mary has done is the work of the Holy Trinity and not merit or work of Mary. The hymn of praise to greet Francis writes Mary is one of the most genuine and beautiful texts that our Father has left us. Try to enter an atmosphere of prayer and reflection on the spiritual depth of this song.

 
 
Greetings to the Blessed Virgin Mary
"Hail Lady, Holy Queen, Holy Mother of God,Mary Virgin made Churchchosen by the Holy Father in heaven,consecrated by him with his most holy beloved SonOmbudsman and the Holy Spirit,in whom there was and is all fullness of grace and every goodHail, palace of God!Rejoice, tabernacle of God!Hail, home yours!Hail, garment thereof!Hail His Servant!Hail His Mother!and saved, all ye holy virtuesthat by the grace and illumination of the Holy Spirit, are poured into the hearts of the faithful,to make them infidels, faithful to God! "
FOR REVIEW OF OUR LIVES

1. Where does the Mother of God in my life?
2. Am I aware of the work that God has done for mankind through the Mother of Jesus?
3. How do I express my devotion and gratitude to Mary for being my biggest advocate?
4. Am I able to foster devotion to Mary or ashamed of that?

Pray three Our Father. Three Hail Marys. Three Glory ...