The Blessed Virgin Mary Virgin, Mother of the Church, Memorial.<\/p>\n
\u2018Let us come before the Lord, giving thanks.\u2019 (Invitatory antiphon).<\/p>\n
Christy Oglesby, senior producer at CNN commented on the recent death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. George\u2019s final moments in the custody of the police were captured as he screamed \u2018Mama\u2019. Floyd, handcuffed and held to the ground, pleaded with the officers, one of whom held a knee to George\u2019s neck. Floyd couldn\u2019t breathe. George Floyd\u2019s mother is deceased. But in his cry-\u2018Mama\u2019, Christy Oglesby heard a call of \u2018hope and horror\u2019. \u2018Hope because in that moment Floyd hoped the person who gave him life could save him even in death\u2019: And \u2018horror because that\u2019s never how a black mama wants to hear her sacred title.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u2018Mama\u2019 is an \u2018unwavering declaration of faith\u2019, whatever age a child. Children shout out \u2018Mama\u2019 when they are \u2018excited, proud, threatened, or in pain\u2019. The child is certain of and waits the response.<\/p>\n
Today\u2019s Gospel (Jn 19:25-34) can be heard proclaimed via the webcam or read from the New Testament.<\/p>\n
This Gospel reading is also one of horror and hope. To pause and reflect on the Passion of Jesus is a scene of horror. Mary, his Mother and a few others, including John, gazed on Jesus as he was crucified. Mary stood with a broken heart, helpless at the foot of the cross. Before Jesus died, Jesus said to Mary, \u2018Woman, here is your son.\u2019 To John, Jesus said, \u2018Here is your mother.\u2019 Jesus entrusted Mary to his disciples as their mother.\u00a0 He entrusted the disciples to Mary as her children. That is our hope, to have Mary as our Mother.<\/p>\n
Imagine how Mary felt when she heard Jesus say on the Cross, \u2018I am thirsty.\u2019 She longed to give him a drink. Instead Jesus \u2018got a sponge full of wine on a branch of hyssop held to his mouth.\u2019 After this, Jesus said, \u2018It is finished\u2019 and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.<\/p>\n
Mary is our Mother. We read in Sacred Scripture that Mary and the disciples \u2018together gave themselves to constant prayer. With them were some women and also Mary, the Mother of Jesus and his brothers.\u2019 (Acts 1:12-14). Mary is crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth, the one to whom we can entrust ourselves and those who suffer to her care. Disciples can pray with Mary.<\/p>\n
SEEK MARY, MOTHER OF GOD IN THE GROW IN LOVE RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAMME<\/p>\n
Mary, Mother of God and Our Mother, has a central place in the Grow in Love programme. She is the first disciple and leads the disciples to her Son Jesus. Mary and Joseph loved Jesus. Children recognise the family as the Holy Family of Nazareth. They explore the Jewish culture in which Jesus grew up. They witness Jesus as reaching out in love to all people and one who loves\u00a0 God and God’s people unconditionally.<\/p>\n
The Four Strands of the Catholic Preschool and Primary Religious Education Curriculum for Ireland (2015) include Mary, Mother of God.\u00a0 From Level 2 in the RE Curriculum, \u2018Mary\u2019 is included as one strand unit. This ensures that every aspect of Mary\u2019s life is encompassed, especially her deep love and trust in God and her virtuous way of life.<\/p>\n
Children experience family life and they begin to appreciate the role\/s and love of their parents\/guardian. They appreciate that Mary was chosen to be the Mother of Jesus at The Annunciation. She accompanied Jesus through his life. Mary declared herself at the Annunciation as servant of the Lord. She surrendered herself to God\u2019s will. Mary acknowledged the great things God did for her in \u2018The Magnificat\u2019.<\/p>\n
Children learn to pray to Mary.\u00a0 When they learn the Mysteries of the Rosary they are introduced to the events in Jesus\u2019 life. Using their Rosary beads throughout the years at school, children pray the Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary and the Mysteries of Light. Children identify the Sacred Scripture associated with each decade of the Mysteries of the Rosary.<\/p>\n
Mary, Mother of God is celebrated throughout the Liturgical Year and there are special feasts dedicated to pray in her honour. Mary, Mother of God and Our Mother intercedes for us with Jesus. Families are invited to pray to Mary at home.<\/p>\n
Children relate to Mary Mother of God and as their Mother. In prayer, as they take a moment they can ask Mary to pray to Jesus to help them.<\/p>\n
Today\u2019s feast day is Mary, Mother of the Church, which encourages the faithful, the People of God, to honour Mary in prayer and with love. Jesus gave us Mary as Mother of the Church. We thank Mary for her faithfulness.<\/p>\n
Mary was specially preserved by God from all sin. (The Immaculate Conception).<\/p>\n
Today if our local parish church is open, we are invited to visit there, say a prayer and light a candle. In many churches there are shrines dedicated to Mary. We are also invited to light a virtual candle on the VERITAS Grow in Love website.<\/p>\n
Mary has appeared in many places throughout the world over centuries. Her appearances are called apparitions. These places are called Marian shrines where pilgrims go and pray. Some of these images of Mary are accessible in the various e-books with accompanying videos on the website.<\/p>\n
The children also reflect on Mary’s virtues: woman of faith, joy, fidelity, obedience, patience, gentleness, wisdom, humility, trust and prayer.<\/p>\n
Children might identify Mary\u2019s suffering with all parents\/guardians who suffer today because their children are bullied, murdered, discriminated against or subject to violence of any kind.<\/p>\n
In the Grow in Love programme, children explore life stories of people who stand\/ stood up for human rights and against violence and discrimination. Such people might include, Pope Francis, Ruby Bridges, Jean Donovan (1953-80), Fr Edward Flanagan (1886-1948), Samantha Smith (1972-85), St John Paul 11 (1920-2005) and St Oscar Romero (1917-80).<\/p>\n
Resources are accessible including the Children\u2019s Grow in Love e-book to read about Mary, Mother of God.\u00a0 Online videos and interactive activities are also helpful.<\/p>\n
Logon: www.veritas.ie<\/p>\n
Email: trial@growinlove.ie<\/p>\n
Password: growinlove<\/p>\n
INVITATION TO:<\/p>\n
SING:\u00a0 \u2018When Creation was Begun\u2019, \u2018A Mhuire Mh\u00e1thair\u2019, \u2018The Bells of the Angelus\u2019, \u2018The Magnificat\u2019, \u2018Regina Coeli\u2019.<\/p>\n
PRAY with Grow in Love\/I nGr\u00e1 D\u00e9<\/p>\n
HAIL MARY<\/p>\n
Hail Mary, full of grace,<\/p>\n
the Lord is with thee.<\/p>\n
Blessed art thou among women,<\/p>\n
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb,<\/p>\n
Jesus.<\/p>\n
Holy Mary, Mother of God,<\/p>\n
pray for us sinners,<\/p>\n
now and at the hour of our death.<\/p>\n
Amen.<\/p>\n
\u2018S \u00c9 DO BHEATHA, A MHUIRE<\/p>\n
\u2018S \u00e9 do bheatha a Mhuire,<\/p>\n
at\u00e1 l\u00e1n do ghr\u00e1sta,<\/p>\n
t\u00e1 an Tiarna leat.<\/p>\n
Is beannaithe th\u00fa idir mhn\u00e1,<\/p>\n
agus is beannaithe toradh do bhroinne,<\/p>\n
\u00cdosa.<\/p>\n
A Naomh Mhuire,<\/p>\n
a Mh\u00e1thair D\u00e9,<\/p>\n
guigh orainn, na peacaigh,<\/p>\n
anois agus ar uair \u00e1r mb\u00e1is. \u00c1im\u00e9an.<\/p>\n
\u2018Blessed be the Lord, our God.\u2019 (Benedictus antiphon).<\/p>\n
\u2018My soul magnifies the Lord, since God has had regard for my humble state.\u2019 (Magnificat antiphon).<\/p>\n
\u2018May my prayer come to you; incline your ear to my cry for help.\u2019 (Psalm 87:3).<\/p>\n
\u2018Mary, the Mother who cared for Jesus\u2026.now cares 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.\u2019 (Laudato Si\u2019, no. 241).<\/p>\n
‘O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee.’<\/p>\n
Sr Anne Neylon<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Blessed Virgin Mary Virgin, Mother of the Church, Memorial. \u2018Let us come before the Lord, giving thanks.\u2019 (Invitatory antiphon). Christy Oglesby, senior producer at CNN commented on the recent death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. George\u2019s final moments in the custody of the police were captured as he screamed \u2018Mama\u2019. Floyd, handcuffed and held […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5217","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.growinlove.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5217","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.growinlove.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.growinlove.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.growinlove.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.growinlove.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5217"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.growinlove.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5217\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.growinlove.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5217"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.growinlove.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5217"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.growinlove.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5217"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}