“Dear Children! Anew I call you to follow me with joy. I desire to lead you all to my Son, your Savior. You are not aware that without Him you do not have joy and peace, nor, a future or eternal life, therefore, little children, make good use of this time of joyful prayer and surrender. Thank you for having responded to my call.”

ANEW I CALL YOU TO FOLLOW ME WITH JOY. I DESIRE TO LEAD ALL OF YOU TO MY SON, YOUR SAVIOR.

The Blessed Mother, Queen of Peace and cause of our joy invites us to follow her with joy to encounter her Son and see in Him the light of God’s salvation for the whole world.

Joy is the first fruit of love. Joy accompanies true love and if we seek the cause then the effect shall be ours but he who seeks the effect alone seeks in vain.

One of the beautiful titles given to Mary is ‘Cause of our joy’ and, if we follow Mary with joy then she will lead us to her Son, Jesus, who alone can give us complete joy and in that joy of the Lord, we know a strength and a gladness even amidst suffering for the sake of the Name of Jesus.

To allow ourselves to be lead by Mary to Jesus her Son, the Savior, means making a choice for what makes for peace, joy and love in our lives, and therefore a departure from, or leaving behind of what ever does not make for peace, joy, love and ultimately God’s saving grace in our lives.

Some days we may find that easy and a joy to do, at other times we may struggle, but we must never let go of our faith or give up the struggle to seek and find the Lord with Mary. Remember how Mary and Joseph persevered in their search for the boy Jesus, and after three days found him in the Temple .

We must become evermore in these times a people, a church that seeks the Lord and his strength because our own strength and joy is found only in God.

Seeking the Lord means trusting in his power, mercy and love, for He gives power and strength to his people.

Because of a lack of spiritual perception, a lack of awareness or failure to recognise what is best Mary reminds us that ‘You are not aware that without Him you do not have joy and peace, nor a future or eternal life.’

This is the sad picture or reality in many parts of our world today, where our God and Savior is rejected, refused entrance into the human heart.

Without God in our lives we only build a life and civilisation of dust and ashes but with God we possess the greatest treasure anyone could have in this vessel of clay. We have a joy that can be serene or so great in our souls and while many enjoy themselves in this passing world, we know it does not last, but those who have God in their lives have a joy that is the first fruit of true love, and a true peace to be enjoyed because of God’s favour.

This month’s message concludes by inviting us to make good use of this time of joyful prayer and surrender.

Praying with Mary the Mother of the Lord, the Mother of the church, opens the door for us to encounter her and her Son Jesus, joyfully in prayer and prayer becomes the sign of our openness and surrender to God’s will.

Every material good is diminished by sharing; every spiritual good is diminished by not sharing. Our possession and joy in spiritual goods can only be increased and eternalized by giving them to others in love. God loved the world so much he gave His only Son, that all who believe in Him might not perish. Jn 3:17

Let us pray, O Lord, your Mother desires for us what you desire that we may have life to the full and our joy be complete. Lead us by the prayers, the example and guidance of your Blessed Mother to give ourselves totally to you and so that we may find true joy, and everlasting peace and life with those whom you call ‘Blessed’. We make this prayer with Mary through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Fr Ciaran