Lent with Mary - Some Brief Thoughts

 

Beginning Lent, our gaze should once again turn to Mary who wishes to accompany us during this time of desert. The Church invites us to plunge onto the path of prayer, penance, and almsgiving to prepare our hearts for the central celebration of our Faith: the Pasch, Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Our Lord, Jesus Christ. Mary is never far from us; She always walks by our side and watches over us, like a mother watches over her children.

Let us make the words of St. Louis de Montfort our own, "I am all yours, oh, Mary, and all that I have is yours." Belonging to Mary means belonging to Jesus. She is "the surest, shortest, and most perfect way to reach Jesus." This Lent, let us make the resolution to draw closer to Jesus through Mary. Drawing near to Jesus makes us discover our own poverty, sins, and defects, because the closer we are to the light, the more we can see. If we take Mary by the hand as we do this, we will not become discouraged. Rather, looking towards Her, we implore Her help in order to be more faithful to Jesus.

We meditate His Sorrowful Passion to nourish our fidelity and love. If He has done so much for you, what will you not do for Him?

Lent is an intense time for conversion and for listening to the Second Message with more faith and perseverance, "If you ask for His forgiveness with sincere hearts, He will forgive you." If we take a look at the Gospels, we see stories of how Jesus calls sinners and the sick to draw near to Him constantly. He forgives them and He cures their sicknesses. He does not reject a humble and contrite heart.

This Lent let us draw close to Jesus with faith and confidence to ask forgiveness, not only for our sins, but for those of the whole world. Let us ask Him to have mercy; He will hear us. May this time of Lent not be centered upon ourselves, but let us open our hearts to the entire world, to so many souls who are in need of knowing the Lord and returning to Him.

 

https://www.garabandal.it/en/live-garabandal/spirituality/996-lent-with-mary-some-brief-thoughts 

Second Formal Message – 18 June, 1965

Toward the end of the apparitions, Our Lady told the visionaries that she was displeased because her first message went unheeded. She, therefore, announced that she would give a second and final message, through the intercession of St. Michael, on June 18, 1965.

As the day arrived, thousands of visitors from Spain and many foreign countries swelled the little mountain village to witness the apparition and hear this further communication from the Blessed Virgin.

 “As my message of October 18 has not been complied with and has not been made known to the world, I am advising you that this is the last one. Before, the cup was filling up. Now it is flowing over. Many Cardinals, many Bishops and many Priests are on the road to perdition and are taking many souls with them.

Less and less importance is being given to the Eucharist. You should turn the wrath of God away from yourselves by your efforts. If you ask His forgiveness with sincere hearts, He will pardon you. I, your Mother, through the intercession of St. Michael the Archangel, ask you to amend your lives. You are now receiving the last warnings. I love you very much and do not want your condemnation . Pray to Us with sincerity and We will grant your requests. You should make more sacrifices. Think about the Passion of Jesus."