Beautiful Indepth - Lenten Book - Ashes To Glory: A Lent to Easter Journey

Ashes To Glory

A Lent to Easter Journey of Daily Scripture, Spiritual Renewal, Healing, and the Hope of Resurrection Life

What if this Lent and Easter could become the most transformative season of your life?

A journey not merely symbolic, but a real encounter with the God who makes all things new— a holy interruption so honest, so stretching, so tender and fierce that you could not possibly emerge the same.

Ashes to Glory is a 47‑day Christian devotional that leads you from repentance to resurrection and into a transformed life with God. Blending Scripture, spiritual formation, and rich theological reflection, this devotional pilgrimage guides you from the dust of Lent to the brilliance of Easter. It is a slow, sacred walk with Christ through surrender, mercy, longing, and renewal—a spiritual mini‑retreat that gently exposes what must fall away and awakens what is ready to rise.

Whether you are seeking a Lent devotional, an Easter devotional, or a Christian spiritual formation resource to deepen your walk with Jesus, Ashes to Glory offers a clear and compelling path into deeper intimacy with Him.

Across these days, you will explore the core movements of the Christian life—repentance, mercy, surrender, holiness, hope, and resurrection. Each reading combines biblical insight, reflective prayer, and practical application, helping you live out your faith with clarity and purpose.

You will discover:

• A meaningful way to journey through Lent and prepare your heart for Easter
• Daily reflections that draw you into Scripture and the presence of God
• A deeper understanding of repentance, forgiveness, and spiritual renewal
• How to follow Jesus into death to self and rise into new life
• The power of the Holy Spirit to transform your heart and habits
• What it means to reflect the glory of God in everyday life

Along the way, you will encounter:

• The beauty of turning your heart back to God
• The mercy that meets you in your weakness
• The courage to lay down what no longer gives life
• The slow, radiant work of the Spirit forming Christ within you
• The joy and strength of resurrection life
• The quiet shine of a soul that has been with God

This is not a devotional you simply read. It is a path you walk. A transformation you receive. A rising that begins in the hidden places of the heart.

Perfect for individuals, families, small groups, or church communities, Ashes to Glory is a spiritually rich guide for anyone longing for renewal, depth, and a fresh encounter with God.

Let these 47 days draw you from ashes to glory— from the life you have known into the life that is waiting for you.

Begin your journey. Embrace the transformation. Live the resurrection.

Available on Amazon: Ashes To Glory - A Beautiful Journey of Lent to Easter

My New Book on sale at Amazon - The Holy Rosary Companion

Link to the Book on Amazon: The Holy Rosary Companion 

Can the Lord do this for me? Yes — because Jesus Christ is alive, His Word is fire, and the Holy Spirit still moves with power in every believer who prays with faith‑filled expectation.

The Church teaches that prayer is meant to be living, burning, and transformative. CCC 2708 reveals that meditation engages the whole person — thought, imagination, emotion, and desire — until the heart is filled with the truth of Christ. Scripture then reveals the next step: “With the heart one believes… and with the mouth confession is made…” (Romans 10). When the heart is ignited by the Word and the mouth boldly proclaims that Word in faith, heaven breaks open.

The Holy Rosary Companion is written for anyone who longs for the Spirit‑filled, Scripture‑rooted, Christ‑centered prayer through the powerful intercession of Mary. This is the Rosary prayed with fire — with the Word of God on your lips, the mysteries of Christ before your eyes, and the Holy Spirit stirring your heart into living faith.

Each mystery includes: 

• A key Scripture summary 

• A short opening prayer 

• Ten Christ‑centered confessions (“Jesus, you…”) 

• Scripture references for every meditation 

• A simple structure for individuals, families, and groups

Rosary is the prayer that moves mountains. Prayer that renews the mind. Prayer that awakens the heart. Prayer that invites the Holy Spirit to act with power. Many individuals, and families testify that when the Rosary is prayed contemplating on the mysteries of Christ the atmosphere shifts — peace enters the home, unity grows, healings and deliverances are manifested, bondages broken, curses lifted and the presence of God becomes tangible.

As you pray, expect the Holy Spirit to stir faith within you. Expect Jesus to meet you in the mysteries. Expect the Father to pour out grace.

This companion will help you:
• Shut every door to the enemy 

• Give Jesus first place in all things 

• Walk as an overcomer through Christ 

• Receive the goodness God desires for you 

• Live in the freedom Christ won for you 

• Cast down every thought that opposes the Word 

• Recognize the supernatural power of your spoken confession 

• Expect God to move suddenly, swiftly, and powerfully 

• Experience all the graces promised in the Holy Rosary

Rooted in CCC 2708 and Romans 10, this book provides Scripture‑anchored confessions that train your heart and your mouth to work together in faith. You may find yourself learning a new way to pray — but the fruit will be supernatural, liberating, and bring you into closer union with Jesus.

Perfect for: 

• Anyone hungry for a deeper encounter with Jesus 

• Families longing for unity, peace, and spiritual breakthrough 

• Prayer groups, ministries, and parish gatherings 

• Converts and seekers exploring the Rosary 

• Anyone desiring a Rosary experience that is simple, scriptural, and Spirit‑filled

Let this companion draw you into the fire of Christ’s love — one mystery, one Scripture, one Spirit‑empowered confession at a time.

Link to the Book on Amazon: The Holy Rosary Companion 

Our Lady of Hrushiv, Ukraine & Message (Conditional) on WORLD WAR 3

 For Discernment and Preparation (Spiritual, Physical)

Our Lady of Hrushiv, Ukraine & Message (Conditional) on WORLD WAR 3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLSTcC00wXE&t=208s

WORLD WAR 3 - PROPHECY - Our Lady of Hrushiv - UKRAINE Seventy-three years after the 1914 apparition, the Mother of God once again appeared at Hrushiv. On April 26, 1987 – exactly one year after the Chernobyl disaster — a bright light covered the church of the Holy Trinity in Hrushiv, and the Virgin Mary appeared over the cupola. A television program even recorded part of this light phenomenon. 

 

Soon hundreds, then thousands came from all over the USSR to view these apparitions which continued every day until August 15. It is estimated that over 500,000 witnessed these apparitions until they ended. The Soviet militia and KGB could not even begin to control the crowds. 

 

The message was a sequel to the earlier one: “I have come on purpose to thank the Ukrainian people because you have suffered most for the Church of Christ in the last 70 years. I have come to comfort you and to tell you that your suffering will soon come to an end. Ukraine will become an independent state.” And once again, the Holy Mother warned of the dangers coming from Russia and asked people to pray for that country. 

 

“Oppression and wars continue to occupy the minds and hearts of many people. Russia, despite everything, continues to deny my Son. Russia rejects real life and continues to live in darkness. If there is not a return to Christianity in Russia, there will be a Third World War; the whole world will face ruin.”

 

Please watch & share.

God Bless Everyone

An Evening of Praise, Worship, Talk and Divine Mercy Prayer

An Evening of Praise, Worship, Talk and Mercy Prayer Talk:

We are at War - by Br Jude Antoine 

Saturday 03rd October 2020 8PM Sydney TIME ZONE 

(3:30 PM India Time - same day) 

Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/4399152776 

Meeting ID: 439 915 2776 Password : 124622 

 

 

 https://www.youtube.com/user/christtotheworld 

 Share, Care, Cure, Spread - Jesus.

Link to Judy's healing of hip pain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEc55JscPro&t=622s 

 

Before that a positive tested COVID-19 patient had a miraculous change and tested negative to COVID-19 after prayer. 

 

Prayer releases fire and power of the Holy Spirit and activates the supernatural over the natural. 

Tap into this realm and walk in Victory in Jesus name. Jesus works marvelously and is ALIVE.

Facebook - St Nicholas of Myra Rosary - LIVE

Dear Viewers, Readers

Facebook - St Nicholas of Myra Rosary - LIVE Link

https://www.facebook.com/SNOMPenrith/videos/558211918209642/

 

Watch, Pray, Share.

 

We offered this Rosary prayer for your life situation, that you are going through. 

We would like you to pray Rosary and Divine Mercy daily, together with your family and friends.

God Bless.

Medjugorje - Fr James Manjackal - driving out the evil spirit

"Taking my Crucifix and Rosary I started praying for her and commanded the evil spirit to go."

 

In a retreat preached at Medjugorje, Bosnia, one day in an afternoon a lot of people were standing outside the hall just for a laying on of hands and prayer. 

As I was doing it, a woman came towards me very furiously with loud shouts of abusive words, with her fists to strike me and standing near me she started spitting on my face. The people in the queue took hold of her. 

She was so strong and violent that seven or eight strong people could not control her. She said, "You, bloody Indian priest why do you come to destroy us and send us away?. Haven't you any shame to come here to work even without knowing our language and culture". 

With loud laughter of scoff, she said, "O I know that you are very poor and are starving in India, that is why you have come here...". She was screaming at times, she tried to remove all her cloths. She was expressing all the characteristics of an evil spirit as it is explained in Mark 5: 1-10. 

Fr. Slavko, the spiritual director of the Marian Centre at Medjugorje came to my rescue!. He wiped the spittle from my face with his towel and washed my face with fresh water. Taking my Crucifix and Rosary I started praying for her and commanded the evil spirit to go. Suddenly she fell flat on the ground with her tongue out, with the whole face becoming blue and went on spitting and speaking abusive words. Although she was from England, she refused to speak English, but started speaking in Italian which I did not know. The devil defrauds always!. 

Because Fr. Slavko knew several languages he was very helpful to me to conduct the prayer of exorcism which lasted for several hours. In our prayer we decided to fast and to do sacrifices. Much prayer, faith and fasting are required to heal such cases (Mt 17: 20).

After, the evil spirit had gone out of her, I counselled her along with her husband. Both of them were homeopathic doctors from England but their medical practices were mixed with esoteric devices which have their origins in Hinduism and in Buddhism. 

They are practices with complete reliance on powers of nature which is mixed with evil powers. 

- As told by Fr James Manjackal M.S.F.S

LEARN THE HOLY ROSARY SIGNS OF THE END OF TIMES

June 2, 1988 (Fête Dieu)

(I prayed now the third day, the whole Rosary, and of course the three prayers the Lord wishes us to pray.)

Lord?

I am; My Vassula, by persevering, ¹ the devil weakens; evil diminishes; learn the Holy Rosary, embellish My Church;

(The Lord means that the Orthodox and Protestants and other Churches who do not pray the Holy Rosary should learn it, thus enriching the Holy Church and banishing the devil, crushing him; heresy will diminish as well as apostasy in the Church which has infiltrated because of the unfaithfulness and disobedience.)

yes, Vassula, love will increase and evil will decrease; and for those who argue, saying that this was not said by Me, ² I will show you how meaningless their arguments are; their zeal is misguided and they do not seem to see My Righteousness; they are declaring only their own ideas; they would be ready to disown Me; ³⁴ "I have been found by those who did not seek Me and have revealed Myself to those who did not consult Me"; so I, the Lord, tell you: open your hearts, not your mind! surprised by the poor instrument I chose to manifest Myself, they will deny you as coming from Me; they have forgotten what Scripture says; Scripture says:

Vassula of My Sacred Heart, you have heard Me whisper in your ear, ⁵ I want to show you in Timothy I and II everything that has been predicted for the last days of your era; My creation has degenerated and has fallen lower than the Sodomites; Darkness came upon them as a deadly veil, sent by Satan; Satan has sent many false teachers, false prophets who appear today as philosophers, teaching dogmas which do not come from Me your Lord, and My children, blinded by their ignorance, fall into these traps set up by Satan; I wish that these parts of Timothy be read in public as a warning: 1 Timothy 4:1-16, and 6:20-21 and 2 Timothy 2:14-26; these prophecies were especially pronounced for your times; then in 2 Timothy 3:1-17 in this passage it foretells the state of your era, to be found now; for these are the last days before the end of Times;

solemnly, I request from you all to redouble your prayers for a 'come back'; My Sacred Heart is open for any soul who will repent and who wills to return to Me;

flower, seek always the Spirit of Truth and Discernment before you write with Me; Love loves you and will guide you; come, rest in My Sacred Heart; I will never forsake you; we, us?

Yes, Lord. Yes, Holy Mother.

1 Trying hard to please St. Mary and Jesus by praying the Holy Rosary, obeying Their will.

2 To learn the Rosary.

3 Declaring that these writings are not from God, because many things written by God in here do not suit them.

4 Is. 65:1.

5 Two nights ago Jesus whispered into my ear that I should read in the Holy Bible, 1 and 2 Timothy.

What does the Catholic Church say about TLIG Messages.

http://www.tlig.org/en/testimonies/churchpos/

 

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Fr Xavier Khan and Miracle of Rosa Mystica

Weeping Mother Mary

In August 2006 a servant of God who came to Sehion Retreat Center for retreat presented a picture of our Lady of Rosa Mystica which shed Blood Tears, to Rev. Fr. Xavier khan Vattayil, the Director of Sehion. 

Moved by a Divine inspiration Fr. Xavier Khan arranged a bigger reprint of 6 feet height of the same picture and blessed it and placed the picture in a small shed at the entrance of the compound. 

He named it as Mariankoodaram, a chapel, dedicated to our Lady of Rosa Mystica, where a group of intercession team incessantly pray for the conversion of sinners and Evangelisation of the world from, dawn till late at night, by reciting the Holy Rosary.

Our Lady shed tears from 4th to 8th September 2006

This is one among the many intercession centers in the compound. Besides, Fr. Khan and Sehion team also used to pray before this picture whenever time permitted. It was from this picture that Our Lady shed tears from 4th to 8th September 2006.

As usual, on September 4th 2006 the member in charge of the intercession group entered the chapel for cleaning and arrangements. She approached the picture to touch and venerate and to their utter surprise she saw tears running down from the eyes of the picture. Immediately the news spread all around. Many of the Rev. Fathers and Rev. Sisters rushed to the spot all on a sudden and witnessed this miracle.

Holy Rosary recited day and night by Palakkad Diocese

Hearing this news people from every part of Palakkad Diocese and from other dioceses far and wide came to witness this and pray. His Lordship Rt. Rev. Dr. Jacob Manathodath, who happened to be at Attappady on some official visit, also came to Mariankoodaram and prayed before the picture. 

Since this miracle many people have come over here and shared there grievances before this picture of Our Lady of Rosa Mistica and have experienced miraculous relief from than sicknesses and have obtained several blessings. 

Now Holy Rosaries are being recited day and night for the whole world. 

Another Miracle of Rosa Mystica from Kottayam, Kerala, India

This family was suffering from lot of diseases and other difficulties. Albin, a partially blind small boy was the first person to catch glimpse of this miracle.
In his total astonishment, he called his mother, a brain tumour patient to see this miracle. It was a view beyond their human imagination. Blood was pouring out from eyes of the picture of Rosa Mystica.

Albin was cured of braintumour - The partially blind boy and his mother who was suffering from brain tumour was cured after this incident. The smell of fragrance enveloped their whole house.

Hearing the news of this miracle, people came out in large numbers to their small house to see this miracle. In order to control the situation, the picture of Rosa Mystica (blood pouring) was taken to their Parish Church at Erumely for the public veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The family was gifted with another picture of Rosa Mystica for prayer by a priest . After few days, blood came out from the second picture of Rosa Mystica too. To avoid any controversies, the second picture of Rosa Mystica was also taken off from that family by the priest who gifted it to them.

Miracle Continues - Another picture of the Rosa Mystica was again given to them for prayers by the same priest. But the miracle continued in the third picture too. This brought faithful from all walks of life and distant places to the small house and the news went across the seas.

Hearing this miracle, a statue of Rosa Mystica was also gifted to them from Germany by one of the faithful. Soon the statue also became an instrument in the miracle. From the statue of Rosa Mystica also miracles started to happen in the form of oil,honey, and milk.

In the presence of hundreds of people - These miracles happened in the presence of hundreds of people and live video was also taken by persons who wants get a scientific opinion about these miracles. At present the picture and statue of Rosa Mystica are kept in the house itself for the benefit of the humble family and the faithful, but locked in a glass chamber by the priests in order to make sure that, it is out of any corruption and human touch.

Only priests are allowed to open the glass chambers to change the plates. But even today, the Miracle continues..... please watch the video link. Pictures and statues are just hand made things and we don't have to worship or venerate it. But Divine Power is showing its mighty presence in all objects and creatures to remind all of us to live in God's presence in our earthly life.

This miracle is interpreted as a call by the Blessed Virgin Mother to all her children (that means all human mankind) to come out from the bonds of sin and adore and worship Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Even though this miracle is only a symbol of God's power, May it helps us to open up our hearts to pour the divine grace to walk His Ways.

Virgin Mary Picture and Statue Seen Crying Tears Of Blood in Kerala

Blood pouring forth from Mother Mary's eyes (Rosa Mystica Picture). watch the video here.

 

Indulgences for praying the Rosary

An Indulgence is the remission of the temporal punishment we suffer for our sins either in Purgatory or on earth. A Plenary Indulgence remits all the temporal punishment due to sin. A Partial Indulgence remits part of it.

A Plenary Indulgence...
may be gained (under the usual conditions) when the Rosary is prayed in Church, in a family group or in a religious community. Also:

• Five (5) decades of the Rosary must be prayed continuously.
  
• The prayers of the Rosary must be prayed vocally and one must meditate upon the Mysteries of the Rosary.
  
• If the recitation of the Rosary is public, the Mysteries of the Rosary must be announced.

A Partial Indulgence...
One may gain a partial indulgence for the Rosary's recitation in whole or in part in other circumstances.
A Plenary Indulgence...
can be gained only once a day (except by those who are in danger of death.)
* to gain a plenary indulgence one must perform the indulgenced act. Three other conditions must be fulfilled:

1. A sacramental confession
   
2. Eucharistic Communion
   
3. Prayers for the Pope's intentions

In addition, one must be free of all attachments to sin, even venial sin. If this complete integrity is not present or if the above conditions are not fulfilled the indulgence is only partial. Both a plenary and partial indulgence may be applied to the dead.

Let's pray with Mary - Rosary

Why Pray with Mary, Mother of God?

1) Why Mary ?

2) Spiritual Profits of Rosary

3) Medjugorje

Why is the importance given to Rosary and why together with Mary?

I believe there is a very special reason for this. The Rosary is at the same time a contemplative prayer and a vocal prayer. We pray vocally, and as we pray vocally, we contemplate the mysteries of our own salvation.
The mystery of salvation is divided into the four sets of Mysteries:
the Joyful Mysteries,
the Luminous Mysteries,
the Sorrowful Mysteries,
the Glorious Mysteries.

In fact, through these four sets of Mysteries, the Church sets before us the whole mystery of salvation. And we contemplate this mystery of salvation together with Mother Mary.

Now, you might wonder, why together with Mother Mary?
It is because Mother Mary is the one who understood the mystery of salvation the best way.
Why?
Because it is she who accepted this mystery - the mystery of salvation in the best way.

Whom did God turn to when He wanted to save the world?
God turned to Mary, the virgin girl from Nazareth. God sent his angel. God asked for her consent to become the mother of the Redeemer.

With her, we contemplate the mysteries of salvation. But then, in our daily routine, when we are busy with a lot of things in our lives, we are not able to concentrate on our contemplation all the time. We need help to concentrate on our contemplation on the mystery of salvation and for that we pray vocally.

And what are we praying vocally?
We are praying in the first part of the Hail Mary, the Word of God. "Hail Mary! Full of grace, The Lord is with you." It is all the Word of God as mentioned in Luke 1:28. It is what the Angel Gabriel said. "Hail Mary!" greeting Mary. "Full of grace" - there was no sin in her. She was all the time full of God's favour and full of God's grace. There was not a single moment in her life when she rebelled against God. No! In every moment, she was the handmaid of the Lord. That is why the angel said "full of grace" - a greeting so true and so inspiring that when we say that in "Hail Mary! Full of grace," we understand how sinful we are and we repent over our sins. We ask God for the grace to remain full of grace - never to rebel against God. Therefore, at the beginning of our prayer, we keep Mother Mary before us. We want to be like Mother Mary - always, always as the handmaid of the Lord. Never to rebel against God's Word. So with that spirit of repentance, we begin our prayer, asking for God's pardon and before we lost the grace of our God.

When we recite the Rosary, and when we say "Blessed are you among women," we want to understand this blessedness came to her because she believed. She believed as Elizabeth said in Luke 1:46, "Blessed are you because you believed." And Jesus also said it. Jesus knew his mother so well. And so when we pray the Rosary, we make a decision. We make a decision t o become blessed like Mother Mary To become blessed by doing God's Will at all times.

This word "Blessed woman" is to be taken in the background of what happened to Eve, the first mother. She was a cursed woman. She brought a curse to the whole of humankind because she disobeyed God's Word. And now here stands a Mother - a Mother that making our lives blessed by obeying God's Word totally.

Let us pray together:
O God, we thank you for giving us such a wonderful Mother.
A Mother to understand us. A Mother to be with us.
A Mother to take all our tears, all our problems, all our sins, all our sufferings to Jesus.
Mother Mary, pray for us at all times.
And together with you, Mother, we want to go to Jesus. Amen

Why pray with Mary

Mary - Mother of God

Mary – Mother of God – What a wonderful title for such a humble person – the humble handmade of the Lord. Certain groups of people cannot accept it as they put forward many reasons. They say that Mary did not carry God in her womb, but only carried Christ’s human nature. A woman does not give birth of human nature alone but she gives birth to a whole person. Mary thus gave birth to the person of Jesus Christ and the person she gave birth to was God. Since Mary is Jesus ‘s mother, it must be concluded that she is the Mother God for Jesus Christ in God in the flesh (2 Jn 7) Even Protestant Reformers recognized Mary’s divine maternity. Although Mary is the mother of God, she is not his mother in the sense that she is older than God or the source of her son’s divinity.

Recently Christians have been unanimous in proclaiming Mary as Mother of God. The Church fathers of course agreed and the following passages witness in their lively recognition of the sacred truth and great gift of divine maternity that was betoved upon Mary – the humble handmade of the Lord.

Irenaeus
“The Virgin Mary, being obedient to his word, received from an angel the glad tidings that she would bear God” (Against Heresies, 5:19:1 [A.D. 189])

Peter of Alexandira
“They came to the church of the most blessed Mother of God, and ever-virgin Mary, which, as we began to say, he had constructed in the western quarter, in a suburb, for a cemetery of the martyrs” (The Genuine Acts of Peter of Alexandia [A.D. 305])

“We acknowledge the resurrection of the dead, of which Jesus Christ our Lord became the firstling; he bore a body not in appearance but in truth derived from Mary the Mother of God” (Letter to all non-Egyptian Bishops 12 [A.D. 324])

Ambrose of Milan
“The first thing which kindles ardor in learning is the greatness of the teacher. What is greater than the Mother of God? What more glorious than she whom Glory itself chose?” (The Virgins 2:2[7] [A.D. 377])

Let us reflect on the life of Mother Mary

Let us reflect on the life of Mother Mary who lived her life doing God's Will - she is the best example for us to truly be a disciple of Jesus. When God wanted to save the world, it was to Mother Mary that God turned to because as soon as man and woman sinned in Paradise and Paradise was lost.

God spoke to Mother Mary and she accepted God's Word. The Word revealed to her that she was to conceive and bear a son. She did not understand much. How could a village girl from Nazareth understand the great wisdom of the mind of God? And she said it in so many words, "How can this be? How can I bear a son?" and the Angel said two things. Firstly, the Angel said this was God's plan for the salvation of humankind. Secondly, the Plan of God would be done in the Power of the Holy Spirit. That was enough for Mother Mary! She said if this was God's Plan and the plan was done through the anointing of the Holy Spirit, "Here, I am, the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done to me according to Thy Word."(Luke 1:38) It was at that moment that salvation began!

The Church has promulgated TWO beautiful dogmas of Mother Mary - the dogma of "Immaculate Conception" and the "Assumption into Heaven" - that Mother Mary was conceived without sin. Because of the merits of the redemption of Jesus, her Son, she was preserved from all sins even from the first moment of her conception. At the end of her sojourn on earth, she was taken up to heaven, body and soul. She was not corrupted in the mud of the earth. In fact, it is sin that corrupts. In Mother Mary, there is no sin at all! There is nothing corrupted in her body and mind. She was a woman full of grace - that is the way the Angel addressed her, "Hail Mary, full of grace!" (Luke1:28) At no time in her existence, was she under the slavery of satan. At no time in her life, has she ever consented to sin. So she was full of grace - her body and mind was filled with grace. As the poet, Woodsworth said, "A solitary boast of a tainted nature". Human nature was tainted by sin but Mother Mary was not - she was taken up to heaven, This is our Mother - a Star of discipleship!

"The Lord Is With You And Has Greatly Blessed You" (Luke 1:28) Why do we call Mother Mary the Star of Discipleship? Firstly, Mother Mary is the one who teaches us how to be disciples. Let us see what Jesus Himself said about His Mother - an event recorded in all the three Gospels: Matthew, Mark and Luke. In Luke 8:19-21, "Then his mother and his brethren came to Him but they could not reach him for the crowd. And He was told, ‘Your Mother and brethren are standing outside desiring to see You', but he said to them, ‘My Mother and brethren are those who hear the Word of God and do it.'"

Mother Mary shows us the way in our moments of sufferings - to become like Her beneath the Cross, co-saviours of Jesus, completing what is lacking in the suffering of Jesus through our sufferings. Thus she became ‘Blessed' and that is what Elizabeth told her, "Blessed are you because you believe!"(Luke 1:45) This word "Blessed woman" is to be taken in the background of what happened to Eve, the first mother. She was a cursed woman. She brought a curse to the whole of humankind because she disobeyed God's Word. And now here stands a Mother - a Mother that making our lives blessed by obeying God's Word totally.

This is our Mother - a Mother who teaches us how to be a disciple; how to hear God's Word; how to obey God's Word; how to wait upon God for the anointing of the Holy Spirit and how to accept our sufferings and become co-saviours with Jesus, our Saviour. 

Related Links on Mother Mary

Why pray the Rosary with Mary
http://christtotheworld.blogspot.com/2009/08/lets-pray-with-mary-rosary.html  

Spiritual profits of praying the Rosary

http://christtotheworld.blogspot.com/2009/08/indulgences-for-praying-rosary.html