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Helen
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This weekend I spent a little time speaking with some friends about the name of this forum. One friend wondered why this forum dedicated to knowing and sharing about the Blessed Mother is the same as the title of a book written about the Blessed Sacrament. Another friend said that the name Hidden Treasure makes her think of the Blessed Sacrament first and not the Blessed Mother first.
I was very pleased with the connection of the Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed Mother. It reminds me of one of the dreams of Don Bosco in which he saw the two pillars of the Church which will take us into the future: the Blessed Sacrament and the Virgin Mary.
Mary always and directly brings us to her Son. This is why devotion to her is such a sure way of finding Jesus and staying close to Him. The Blessed Sacrament is truly the body, blood, soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ. Mary will bring us close to the Eucharistic Jesus.
We have this Great Sacrament of His Body because He became man through the womb of the Blessed Virgin. She is the First Gold Box to hold the Sacred Species. She is the first Tabernacle. Staying with her in prayer is like spending time with the Blessed Sacrament in the Tabernacle. The two thoughts of the Blessed Sacrament and Our Lady go hand in hand.
I was wondering if anyone would like to share an example of a time in her life when Our Lady brought you to Jesus, especially in the Blessed Sacrament. Sometimes it is helpful in our prayer lives to remember these events. It gives us courage during darker times.
I look forward to reading your responses. 
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Angie Mc
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Helen, I've been thinking about your question and I am having a difficult time articulating that, yes, Mother Mary has brought me to her Son in the Eucharist. I do know that there was a time when I was very far away from both. Now I so try to cooperate and stay close.
I'm not even sure which came first, my closer devotion to Our Lady or to the Eucharist. I believe it was to Our Lady. After I consecrated myself to her, adoration became available for the first time at my parish! The combination of consecration and adoration is powerful. My relationship with Mary and the Eucharist is like an elegant dance...a gentle flowing and oneness.
Love,
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Helen
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| Posted: Nov 19 2010 at 11:06am | IP Logged
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Angie Mc wrote:
After I consecrated myself to her, adoration became available for the first time at my parish! The combination of consecration and adoration is powerful. My relationship with Mary and the Eucharist is like an elegant dance...a gentle flowing and oneness.
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Angie when I first posted this question, I had an old example of how Mary brought me closer to the Eucharist. Your post made me think that I should reflect more on my life and come up with a more recent example. There had to be a more recent example than the example from 20 years ago!
One of the requirements with making a total Consecration to Mary with the Franciscans of the Immaculate is to pray Morning and Evening prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours. (the Breviary) Because of this requirement, I find myself (when I have the chance) stopping in at Church to pray the Breviary. I probably wouldn't think to seek out the Church or spend as much time as I do, if I didn't have the requirement of praying Morning and Evening prayer.
I hadn't realized that my visits to the Blessed Sacrament this year could be attributed to devotion to Mary. It is Our Lady calling me to Church and helping me visit with the Lord.
Angie, thanks for calling me to look more closely so that I can thank the Holy Mother of God!
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aussieannie
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Thank you for this reflection Helen, it is lovely to ponder the 'hidden treasure' within the name itself, of this Marian board.
It certainly had me thinking and then I found in the document library of EWTN, something written and published in the L'Osservatore Romano by Archbishop Angelo Amato, S.D.B. It is called, At the school of Mary, Woman of the Eucharist and it is his reflections upon the papal encyclical written by Pope John Paul II in 2003, Ecclesia de Eucharistia (Latin for Church of the Eucharist) or to be more specific, his reflections on Chapter six of the encyclical, At the School of Mary, "Woman of the Eucharist"
I would love to discuss and ponder upon many of the beautiful ideas presented in the writings of Pope John Paul II and the Archbishop Amato. I love to have you read these documents and share what touches you.
I wanted to share this quote first from the Archbishop:
"The Eucharist is the gift of Mary who, in freely accepting her divine motherhood, becomes the dwelling-place of the bread of life, the immaculate soil that produces the grain that nourishes the universe, the spiritual paradise where the tree of life buds forth, a tree whose sweetness gives life to those who partake of it."
The Eucharist is the gift of Mary who, in freely accepting her divine motherhood, becomes the dwelling-place of the bread of life....I love that...
I think of something else here too, it is not surprising then that our brothers and sisters in Christ usually from protestant denominations, have serious problems with both Our Lady and the Eucharistic being the true body of Christ. I can see now that they are linked in a way that cannot be separated. I understand how both lead to each other ~ someone who comes to understand Our Lady's role in the life of the Church as we understand it, will come to the Eucharist. Anyone who comes to believe in the True Presence in the Eucharist, will come to Mary. What an amazing thought!
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aussieannie
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This was another lovely reflection from Archbishop Amato, he writes of a hymn composed by St Ephrem the Syrian: (306~373) St Ephrem states that Mary, the new Eve, who gave to the world Jesus, present under the Eucharistic species:
"In place of that bitter fruit that Eve plucked from the tree, Mary gave mankind sweet fruit. And behold, the whole world enjoys the fruit of Mary. The virginal vine has borne a grape whose sweet wine has given comfort to those who mourn"
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stellamaris
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aussieannie wrote:
This was another lovely reflection from Archbishop Amato, he writes of a hymn composed by St Ephrem the Syrian: (306~373) St Ephrem states that Mary, the new Eve, who gave to the world Jesus, present under the Eucharistic species:
"In place of that bitter fruit that Eve plucked from the tree, Mary gave mankind sweet fruit. And behold, the whole world enjoys the fruit of Mary. The virginal vine has borne a grape whose sweet wine has given comfort to those who mourn"
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Aussieannie, thank you for sharing this beautiful quote. As a convert, I struggled with understanding Mary so much. When God finally showed me the truth of the Real Presence in the Holy Eucharist, I knew I had to join the Catholic church, but I didn't know how to approach Our Lady. I prayed to Jesus that He would help me love her as much as He did; I felt there certainly could not be anything wrong with such a prayer! How He answered this plea of my heart! Shortly after I entered the Church, the Holy Spirit managed to lead me to True Devotion by St. Louis-Marie de Montfort and I made the Total Consecration to Mary.
Now as I behold Jesus elevated on the altar at each Mass, I see also Our Lady standing beside Him as she did on Calvary, offering Him to me and to all the world. How deep is her love! How immeasurable her sacrifice and her participation in His sacrifice! Jesus led me to Mary, and now Mary leads me to Jesus. Now I pray, "Mary, help me love Jesus as you did!"
Also, I wanted to thank you for your lovely Communion of Saints poster idea. I made it this year and the children really loved it.
Helen, I want to tell you again how I love my "Mary Vitamin". Thank you.
You might be interested in my recent blog posts on finding Mary hidden in the Jesse Tree devotion. You can read them here. (Generally speaking, this family blog of mine is pretty pathetic!)
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Caroline
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aussieannie
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Caroline your Jesse Tree idea is really special, thank you so much for sharing it. I will enjoy following this throughout this Advent and I would very much like to attempt something crafty with it next year for my children. What a gem you are creating!
A beautiful journey there for you Caroline, such a blessing to have come so quickly to True Devotion considering so many Catholics never do. It is lovely to hear how that devotion has deepened your own understanding and participation in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
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Helen
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stellamaris wrote:
Helen, I want to tell you again how I love my "Mary Vitamin". Thank you.
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Thanks Caroline. Mary Vitamin is Our Lady's work. I can honestly say I am just an instrument.
Thank you for your witness Caroline.
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4Real Forums : Hidden Treasure
Topic: Mary and the Eucharist
