The video series of the World Novena of the Salesian Family to Mary Help of Christians continues with day eight, “Being Children – Gentleness and Everyday Life,” featuring Our Lady of Benneux.
Accompany many consecrated and lay people of the Salesian Family on the spiritual journey towards the Feast of Mary Help of Christians, an anniversary so dear to Don Bosco.
Children trust, children rely on others. And a mother is close by, always.
You see her even if she is not there.
As for us, are we able to see her?
Blessed are those who see with their heart.
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Transcript from the video:
Or Lady of Benneux
Little Marietta of Banneux
On January 18, Marietta was in the garden, praying the rosary. Mary came and took her to a small spring on the edge of the forest, where she said, “This spring is for me,” and invited the little girl to immerse her hand and the rosary in it. Her father and two other people followed Marietta in all her gestures and words with indescribable amazement. And that same evening, the first to be conquered by Banneux’s grace was Marietta’s father, who ran to go to confession and receive the Eucharist: he had not been to confession since his first communion.
On January 19, Marietta asked, “Ma’am, who are you?” “I am the Virgin of the poor.”
At the spring, she added, “This spring is for me, for all the nations, for the sick. I come to console them!”
Marietta was a normal girl who lived her days like all of us, like our children, our grandchildren. Hers was a small and unknown village. She prayed that she would stay close to God. She prayed to her Heavenly Mother to keep the bond with her alive. And Mary spoke to her gently, in a place familiar to her. She would appear to her several times, confide secrets to her, and tell her to pray for the conversion of the world: this was a strong message of hope for Marietta. All children are embraced and consoled by their Mother, all the sweetness that Marietta found in the “Gentle Lady” she passed on to the world. And from this encounter came a great chain of love and spirituality that found its fulfilment in the Shrine of Our Lady of Benneux.
Mary, the Mother who stays besides us.
You who remained beside your children without ever losing a single one, have enlightened the daily path of the simplest people. You drew close to them and revealed yourself to them. Abandon yourself into Mary’s embrace: do not be afraid, she will comfort you.
The Rector Major’s words
The Virgin Mary, education and love.
The Virgin Mary is an incomparable teacher of education, because she is an inexhaustible source of love, and those who love educate, truly educate those they love.
Reflecting on the figure of Mary in relation to these two pillars of human and spiritual growth, we have here an example to contemplate, to take seriously, to incorporate into our daily choices.
The education that emanates from Mary is not made up of precepts or formal teachings but is manifested through her example of life. A contemplative silence that speaks, her obedience to God’s will, both humble and great, her profound humanity.
Here, the first educational aspect that Mary communicates to us is that of listening.
Listening to the word of God, listening to that God who is always there to help us, to accompany us. Mary keeps this in her heart, meditates on it carefully, encourages attentive listening to the word of God and, in the same way, to the needs of others. Mary teaches us that humility, which does not choose to remain detached and passive, but rather the humility which, while recognising our smallness before God’s greatness, places us as people who are active in his service. Our hearts are open to truly be those who accompany, living the plan that God has for us.
Mary is an example that helps us to let ourselves be educated by faith. She teaches us perseverance, remaining steadfast in love for Jesus, even at the foot of the cross.
Education and love. Behold, Mary’s love is the beating heart of her existence. It continues to be for us. Every time we draw close to Mary, we feel this maternal love that extends to all of us. It is a love for Jesus that becomes a love for humanity. Mary’s heart opens with the infinite tenderness that she receives from God, which she communicates to Jesus and to her spiritual children.
Let us ask the Lord that in contemplating Mary’s love, which is a love that educates, we may allow ourselves to be moved to overcome our selfishness and our closed attitudes and to open ourselves to others. In Mary, we see a woman who educates with love and who loves with a love that is educational. Let us ask the Lord to give us the gift of love, which is the gift of his love, which in turn is a love that purifies us, sustains us and makes us grow, so that our example may truly be an example that communicates love and, by communicating love, we may allow ourselves to be educated by her and let her help us so that our example may also educate others.
The voice of the boys
As for us, are we able to abandon ourselves as children do?
The prayer of a child of our times:
Mary, you who show yourself to those who are able to see… make my heart gentle and docile.
Who will put me back together after breaking under the weight of the crosses I carry?
Who will bring light back to my eyes after seeing the ruins of human cruelty?
Who will alleviate the sufferings of my soul, after the mistakes I have made on my journey?
Mother, only you can comfort me.
Hold me tight and keep me with you to keep me from falling apart.
Let my soul rest in you and find peace like a child in its mother’s arms.
Hail Mary…
Blessed are those who see with their heart.
When people asked for some special grace, Don Bosco used to say:
“If you wish to obtain graces from the Blessed Virgin, make a Novena” (MB IX, 289).
- This novena, according to him, had to take place, if possible, “in church, with lively faith” as an act of fervent homage to the Eucharist. According to Don Bosco, for the novena to be efficacious, the dispositions of the soul should be as follows:
- Do not put your hope in human forces, but have faith in God.
- The request should be made to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, fount of grace, kindness, and blessing, and with trust in the power of Mary whom God wishes to be honored on earth in this temple.
- Always add the intention “Thy will be done” and the condition “if it is for the good of the soul of the person being prayed for.”
Three times: Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be… to the Holy Eucharist, followed each time by the short prayer:
Blessed and praised every moment be the Most Holy and Divine Sacrament.
Three times: Hail Holy Queen… followed each time by the short prayer:
María Auxiliadora, ruega por nosotros.
Remember, O most loving Virgin Mary, that it is a thing unheard of, that anyone ever had recourse to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession, and was left forsaken. Filled therefore with confidence in your goodness, I fly to you, O Mother, Virgin of Virgins. To you I come, before you I stand, a sorrowful sinner. Despise not my poor words, O Mother of the Word of God, but graciously hear and grant my prayer. Amen.
Personal Conditions Required:
- Approach the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist.
- Give an offering or do some work to support the apostolate, preferably on behalf of youth.
- Renew your faith in Jesus in the Eucharist and devotion to Mary Help of Christians.
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In addition, the videos of the World Novena will be available on the various language channels of ANS YouTube channel, which will be uploaded day by day until the eve of the feast.