Legion of
Mary
Melbourne Senatus
Prayer with Action
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Legion of
Mary
Melbourne Senatus Prayer with Action |
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Summer School of 2010
Bishop Gerard Hanna
In the beginning of our Christian era, the Church of the Gentiles was made possible, because both in the Mediterranean area and in those parts of Asia to which the messengers of Jesus travelled, there were expectant people who were not satisfied by what everyone around them was doing and thinking, but who were seeking the light which could show them the way towards truth itself, towards the living God. In a fast-paced, ever changing world there are many with an open and restless heart, like the first Christians, who seek the light of truth. As in the past, I believe there is a growing realisation that it is not enough to be more or less like everyone else and to think like everyone else. Life has a deeper purpose. It is time to hold up the Cross of Jesus to a new and restless generation. This Cross speaks of the Truth that prevails not through external forces but it yields itself to us only by the inner force of its own strength and veracity. This is a Truth that proves itself in love. It is never our property, but only received and handed on as a gift. As Christians we trust the force of this truth. We are witnesses to this truth. We must hand it on as a gift in the same way as we have received it. ”to gaze upon Christ is to know his truth” For one who is searching, this summons turns into a a spontaneous plea; a plea that is addressed especially to Mary who has given us Christ as her Son: “Show us Jesus” It is with this plea to the Mother of the Lord that the Legion of Mary carries its apostolate into the world. To Jesus through Mary is the call that lies at the heart of a spirituality that has driven Legionaries for over 80 years. Thus we can help others find the right path and journey with them, step by step, filled with a joyful confidence that this way leads to the Light to the eternal life that only Jesus can give.
The
association of Mary as mother to Jesus her Son finds succinct expression in the
Eucharistic Prefaces for the feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Note the key
phrases when we pray.
(Preface
Blessed Virgin Mary II)
(Immaculate Conception)
(Assumption) The Sacramental life of the Church opens one to the experience of a genuine encounter with our Lord. We meet, the Christ who forgives, the Christ who heals, the Christ who affirms, the Christ who gives Himself in the ultimate act of self-giving, sacrificial love. The Christ who is Son of God, and Son of Mary. To appreciate the power of Mary in leading one to discover the Christ, we need to appreciate again and again the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Mystery of Salvation The role of Mary in the work of man’s Redemption is a mystery revealed by God as part of His great saving plan for the whole human race. If we wish to explain this mystery of Mary (her greatness, her unique gift) we find a necessary starting point in the words of the text in which Mary explains herself. She says quite simply, without affectation. “My soul glorifies the Lord. My spirit exalts in God my Saviour. For He has looked upon His lowly handmaid. Yes from this day forward, all generations will call me blessed. For He who is mighty has done great things for me.” Simply God is my Saviour, He who is mighty has done great things for me. These words are the key to the whole life of Mary, the Mother of God. Mary stands out among the humble and poor of the Lord who confidently hope for and receive salvation from God. In the Sacred books of the Bible, the writings of the Old Testament, she read the history of her people ... a saving history which recorded the mighty deeds of God; the God who led His people from the slavery of Egypt to the land of Promise... the God who is continually active in the some times tragic, sometimes splendid events of Jewish history ... the God who was slowly preparing the world for the great honour of universal redemption... the coming of His Son into the world of men. With Mary, the times are fulfilled. The Son of God takes his human nature from her flesh. In this humanity drawn from Mary’s body, the Son of God lives out a mystery of salvation and redemption. In the experiences of His human life, in the mysteries of His death and Resurrection, He overcomes sin and death, He recreates us, reshaping the body of human lowliness into the body of His glorified and immortal existence. In dying he destroyed our death, our sin. In rising, He restored our life, our glory. This Christ is the Son of God and child of Mary, His Mother; He is the Redeemer, the Saviour the One Mediator. “For there is one God and one mediator of God and men the person of Jesus Christ who gave Himself a ransom for all.” The mystery of Mary is an essential part of this saving plan of God. She does not obscure or diminish the unique mediation of Christ; rather she serves the mystery of Redemption and displays the power of Christ’s salvation. Mary bears witness to the redemption. She displays the mighty deeds of God right from the very beginning of her life. At the first moment of her existence she is redeemed from sin by reason of the merits of her Son. She, who is to give flesh and blood to the Son of God is preserved from original sin, given a unique holiness, a unique intimacy with God from the first instant of her life. This is the mystery of the Immaculate Conception. At God’s command, the young virgin of Nazareth will be addressed by the angel messenger as “full of grace”. Thus, Mary shows forth the mystery of the Redemption at the first moment of her existence by her own deliverance from all sin by reason of the merits of her Son… the God made man. But the last moment of her earthly existence is just as significant as the first … it falls into the same pattern and manifests the mighty works of God. Her life on earth concludes with the mystery of the Assumption… the mystery of her bodily glorification. In this event she shares in Christ’s victory over death in His Resurrection and Ascension. The flesh of Mary, the Mother of the Redeemer, has been transformed by the power of Christ’s Resurrection: she is the first person in whom the mystery of the Resurrection is fully effective. The glory of Christ’s resurrected Body shines out now in the body of Mary, which reflects, as in a mirror the glory of the new creation. And Mary is assumed into the state of bodily glory fully re-united with her Son and Saviour. This mystery of the Assumption is consistent with the whole pattern of her life. Through out her life, she served the Mystery of Redemption. As a young woman, she became the Mother of God and gave to the world the Redeemer… the Christ who was to renew all things and re-shape the destiny of Man. As the handmaid of the Lord, she stood by that Cross unwavering in faith, uniting herself with a maternal heart to Christ’s sacrifice, lovingly consenting to the immolation of this victim which she herself had brought forth. Mary was chosen for her singleness of heart, for her purity of character, for her strength of faith. She was promised the strength that she would need to fulfil her high calling. At each step along the journey, she continued to say “yes” because she held a defiant trust in God, the One with Whom nothing is impossible. Pope John Paul II said in his speech at Ephesus in 1979: “Mary is the ideal model for the Church in her way of life. Through her we pass from the old People of God to the new – from Israel to the Church. She is the first among the humble, the faithful meek awaiting salvation. And she is the first among the saved who hope for the coming of the Lord in humility and obedience. She is the first fruit and the perfect image of the Church.”
Summer School 2010 13-14th February “The Legion Apostolate…..bringing people to the Sacramental Heart of the Church”
Saturday 9.00am Registration. 9.15 am Opening Prayers and Rosary. 9.30am Last Supper –Institution of the Eucharist. ………………………..Fr John Winson 10.15am Morning Tea
10.45am
“The Legion
Apostolate…..bringing people to the Sacramental Heart of the Church” ……………………Bishop Hanna 12.00noon Mass. 12.30pm Lunch. (B.Y.O.) 1.45pm “Give me a drink of water” …John 4:1-42 ……………………. Rick Hayes 2.30pm Seeing and serving Jesus in our neighbour …………………..Lucy Sgro Workshops/Discussion-(set up small groups of ten.) 3.15pm Afternoon Tea. 3.30pm Works of the Legion-……… Rick Hayes Workshops/Discussion-(set up small groups of ten.) 4.15pm General Discussions Principles of the Apostolate-active work. 4.30pm Closing Prayers. 5.00pm BBQ Dinner. (Optional ) Please PRAY for the Success of this weekend. Sunday 9. 30am Mass at St Mary’s Star of the Sea Church. 33 Howard Street, West Melbourne. 10.30am Morning Tea. (Magnificat House) 11.00am Opening Prayers and Rosary. 11.15am True Devotion as a renewal of our Baptismal Vows. ……………………….Caroline Fernandez 12.00noon Angelus. 12.05pm Lunch. (B.Y.O.) 1.30pm "How to Help Someone Go to Confession" ………………………….Fr Paul Newton 2.30pm DeMontfort and the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary …………………………Rick Hayes 3.15pm Closing Prayers
Accommodation. If you need accommodation please ring 03 9328 4757 If you can assist by billeting a Legionary for one or two nights please volunteer your name. You would be required to provide a bed and breakfast for one or two nights, and transport to Magnificat House. Saturday evening meal is a BBQ at Magnificat House.
Saturday Evening Meal. A BBQ will be held for the Distant Council Legionaries who attend the Summer School. Please stay on after the days' events to welcome them. Bookings are essential for catering purposes. Saturday & Sunday Lunches for Billeted Distant Council Visitors will be catered for by Senatus.
Lunches - BYO – Tea and Coffee provided.
Legion of MarySenatus of Melbourne (Inc) 456 Queensberry Street North Melbourne 3051 Victoria, Australia Tel (03) 9328 4757 Fax (03) 9326 9433 Web Site: www.legion-mary.orgEmail:melbsenatus@legion-mary.org
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