Optional memorial of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
Optional memorial of the Irish Martyrs,
‘The Lord’s is the earth and its fulness: come, let us adore him.’ (Invitatory antiphon).
The early days of Covid-19 were a serious source of stress for everyone, in particular families of those working on the front line. There was a sense of unknowing what to do and what might happen next. Very quickly with good, quick thinking and organisation, the Government imposed restrictions and social distancing. Generally, people conformed to what they were asked to do. Life continues.
The Church also acted promptly in the pandemic and called people to prayer. Archbishop Eamon Martin invited priests and bishops to join with him in consecrating Ireland and her people to the Immaculate Heart of Mary for protection from the coronavirus. The special prayer was ‘The Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary’ and was to be said on 25th March 2020, after the Angelus. He also called for the novena prayer to be said for nine days from Saint Patrick’s Day (17-25 March, 2020). Pope Francis also called the people to pray in solidarity daily for individuals and groups of people throughout the panic. Everyone is included. This prayer was held on the 25th March, Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord.
Today, following the celebration of the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Church celebrates the memorial of The Immaculate Heart of Mary. This is a devotional name used to refer to the interior life of the Blessed Virgin Mary, her joys and sorrows, her virtues and her whole being. It also includes her love for God the Father, her love for Jesus and her protective and compassionate love for all God’s people.
ABOUT THE DEVOTION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY
The devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary is based on Scripture. The prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:35) relates that Mary’s heart would be pierced with a sword. In St Luke’s Gospel (Lk 2: 1-52) the evangelist reports that Mary kept all things in her heart, that there, she might ponder over them.
Traditionally, the image of the Immaculate Heart is depicted pierced with a sword. Flowers or roses may be wrapped around the heart.
Today’s readings from the prophet Isaiah (61:9-11) and the Gospel (Lk 2: 41-51) are proclaimed at Mass via the webcam or read from the Old and New Testament.
In the first reading, the prophet Isaiah rejoices in his love for God because God brings justice and praise to the nations.
In the Gospel, the story of Jesus in the Temple sitting among the teachers and the doctors of the law is proclaimed. Jesus went with his parents to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast of Passover. He didn’t go home to Nazareth with them, but they found him three days later in the Temple.
SEEK GOD’S LOVE IN THE GROW IN LOVE RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAMME
Neither the memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary nor the memorial of the Irish Martyrs are included in the Grow in Love programme. That gives families and parish personnel an opportunity to draw from the readings what might be familiar to the children.
The reading from the prophet Isaiah points the children to the value of justice and the virtue of joy. This Gospel story proclaimed today is introduced in First Class/P3. Needless to say, there are countless conversations among the children on how Jesus went missing for three days! To them, according to the norms of Child Protection, it seems very negligent on the part of the parents/ guardian to arrive home without their son from the festival.
Children might read this Gospel of the day (Lk 2:41-51) from the Bible or e-book.
The Fifth Joyful Mystery of the Rosary is the Finding of Jesus in the Temple. There might be a time to pray that decade of the Rosary.
The Prayer of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary refers to Mary as Queen of Ireland, Loving Mother, Mother of Divine Love, Blessed Mother, and a Naomh Mhuire, a Mháthair Dé. These titles for Mary might be explored with children.
In the senior classes children, among other feast days are taught about the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, celebrated on 8 December annually. They recognise that Mary was born free from original sin. This could prompt a chat about the sacrament of Baptism and chat about children’s Baptism. They are taught that sin is a break in relationship with God and with self, their neighbour or the environment.
Mary, Mother of God takes a very prominent role in the Grow in Love programme. Children are introduced to all the Mysteries of the Rosary, Sacred Scripture, and Hymns, Mary’s apparitions at Knock, Lourdes and Guadalupe. They are introduced to the icons of Our Lady of Czestochowa and Our Mother of Perpetual Help.
Children are taught a variety prayers to Mary. They recognise Mary as the first disciple as she leads them to her Son, Jesus. They identify Mary as a loving, kind, obedient, caring, faith filled, courageous, humble, hopeful, decisive, and just woman. They begin to honour Mary as Mother of God and Our Mother.
Many resources are accessible on the VERITAS website to support the Marian theme.
Logon: www.veritas.ie
Email: trial@growinlove.ie
Password: growinlove
INVITATION TO:
READ from Grow in Love/I nGrá Dé
‘The Finding of Jesus in the Temple’ (Lk 2:41-51).
SING from Grow in Love/I nGrá Dé:
‘A Mhuire Mháthair’, ‘When Creation was Begun’, ‘The Bells of the Angelus’, ‘Mary’, Mary Our Mother’
PRAY with Grow in Love/I nGrá Dé
THE FIFTH JOYFUL MYSTERY OF THE ROSARY
THE FINDING OF JESUS IN THE TEMPLE
OUR FATHER X 1
HAIL MARY x 10
GLORY BE TO THE FATHER x 1
THE ANGELUS (pray outside the Easter season)
The Angel of the Lord declared unto
Mary,
and she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary, etc…
Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
Be it done unto me according to Your Word.
Hail Mary, etc…
And the Word was made flesh,
And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary, etc…
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Lord,
fill our hearts with your love,
and as you revealed to us by the message of an angel,
the coming of your Son as man,
so lead us through his suffering and
death,
to the glory of his resurrection,
for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever . Amen.
FÁILTE DON AINGIL
Thainig aingeal an Tiarna le scéala chun Muire,
agus ghabh sí ón Spiorad Naomh.
‘S é do bheatha, a Mhuire…
Féach, mise banóglach an Tiarna,
go ndéantar dom de réir d’fhocail.
‘S é do bheatha, a Mhuire…
Agus ghlac an Briathar colainn
dhaonna,
agus chónaigh sé inár measc.
‘S é do bheatha, a Mhuire…
Guigh orainn, a Naomh- Mháthair Dé
ionas go mb’fhiú sinn geallúna
Chríost.
A Thiarna,
líon ár gcroíthe le do ghrá,
agus faoi mar a nocht tú dúinn trí
aingeal
teacht do mhic I gcolainn dhaonna,
treoraigh sinn, dá bhrí sin, trína
fhulaingt agus a bhás
go glóire a aiséirí,
mar is é a mhaireann agus a rialaíonn
in éineacht leatsa
agus leis an Spiorad Naomh,
Aon Dia, trí shaol na saol. Áiméan.
‘Give your light Lord, to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.’ (Benedictus antiphon).
‘If anyone bears witness to me before men, I will also bear witness to him in the presence of my Father.’ (Magnificat antiphon).
‘I will keep my love for him always.’ (Psalm 88 :2).
From Laudato Si’
‘Mary, the Mother who cared for Jesus, now cares with maternal affection and pain for this wounded world. Just as her pierced heart mourned the death of Jesus, so now she grieves for the sufferings of the crucified poor and for the creatures of this world laid waste by human power. Completely transfigured, she now lives with Jesus, and all creatures sing of her fairness…. She treasures the entire life of Jesus in her heart (cf. Lk 2:19, 51), and now understands the meaning of all things. Hence, we can ask her to enable us to look at this world with eyes of wisdom.’ (Laudato Si’, no. 241).
ABOUT THE IRISH MARTYRS
Seventeen Irish martyrs, men and women, cleric and lay, put to death for the Catholic faith between 1579 and 1654, were beatified by Pope John Paul 11 in 1992. We intercede through them for the people of Ireland and for Christians who suffer for their belief.
‘O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee.’
Sr Anne Neylon