Mary, Lady of the Offering: Day Five of Novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Fifth Day

Mary, Lady of the offering

Listening to the Word: The presentation at the temple (Lk 2: 22-32)

Reflection:
Let us try to stand as spectators at this event:
Mary, Joseph and Jesus, a family that goes to the temple
to offer the child to the Lord. If we wish to translate this
event into our terms, it is a little like a family that prepares
to take a child for baptism. We have so often taken part in
festivities of this kind. However, let us try to examine the
Mother's heart: she wholeheartedly offers to God the child
to whom she gave birth.

Are we capable of imitating her in our daily life?

Prayer:
Daughter of Sion, Lady of the offering,
envelop our hearts so that we may belong to Jesus completely.
Daughter of Sion, Lady of the offering,
free our hearts so that without any fear we may be exclusively His property.
Daughter of Sion, Mother so tender, make our hearts like yours.

My commitment
is to detach myself from something to which
I am greatly attached and offer it to someone
I particularly do not like.

This is so that I may imitate the Mother of my Lord
who offered Her Son with a pure heart.

Flower of Carmel
Vine blossom-laden,
splendour of heaven,
Child-bearing yet maiden,
None equals thee.
Mother so tender,
whom no man didst know,
On Carmel's children
thy favours bestow,
Star of the sea.

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