October

During this beautiful season of autumn, let us enjoy the beauty of God in nature and admire the splendid colors of gold and red leaves from the trees. Watch them fall and fly in the wind leaving the trees naked. Sometimes it is like that in our own lives we have to let go, surrender to some things, to some grudges that we may have… make place for anew…let go of our narrow view of others and let new life flow in again. Let this season of transition be positive. It will power new life.

On this autumnal feast of Thanksgiving Day, we bless and thank the Lord for the abundant harvest. It is time to have a grateful heart, take time to thank God for his gracious gifts he has bestowed on us during the year.

2 Corinthians 9:8 ‘and God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.’

We often hear that this is the month of Mary; it is the month where we celebrate different feasts of Mary. Some countries celebrate Mary every day during this month.

On October 7 we will celebrate our Lady of the Rosary. Mary is our mother and our Queen. Let us bring our intentions and pray to her. At Fatima she told Lucie she was ‘our Lady of the Rosary’.

There are different mysteries of the rosary, Joyful Mysteries, Sorrowful Mysteries, and Glorious Mysteries. The pope had instituted another mystery of the life of Christ; the luminous mystery, sometimes called mysteries of light, Jesus is the light of the world. These mysteries reveal the kingdom of God. It touches the life and ministry of Jesus while he was on earth. With Mary let us ask his graces as we meditate on these mysteries.

The Luminous mysteries are:

1-The Baptism in the Jordan
2-The Wedding at Cana
3-Proclamation of the Kingdom
4-The Institution of the Eucharist
5- The Transfiguration

Here is a prayer to inspire you to ask God to obtain peace in the world.

It is sometimes attributed to Saint Bernard de Clairvaux.

THE MEMORARE

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known
that anyone who fled to your protection,
implored your help or sought your intercession,
was left unaided.

Inspired by this confidence,
we fly unto you,
O Virgin of virgins, our Mother!
To you we come, before you we stand,
sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
despise not our petitions,
but in your mercy hear and answer us.