January 29, 2019
Dear Family of Mary!
Our Lady has spoken about silence before. At least 18 times. We know that Our Lady is a silent soul. We hear her speak only a few times in the Scriptures. And we imagine that she was as silent interiorly as she was outwardly. And so, when she tells us that this is a time of silence and prayer, we want very much to listen to her and say yes to it.
“Dear children! Today, as a mother, I am calling you to conversion. This time is for you, little children, a time of silence and prayer…” (January 25, 2019)
Our Lady gave a similar message to St. Faustina in Advent of 1936. Here is the beautiful advice Our Lady gave to St. Faustina about silence:
November 29, [1936]. The Mother of God has taught me how to prepare for the Feast of Christmas. I saw Her today, without the Infant Jesus. She said to me: My daughter, strive after silence and humility, so that Jesus, who dwells in your heart continuously, may be able to rest. Adore Him in your heart; do not go out from your inmost being. My daughter, I shall obtain for you the grace of an interior life which will be such that, without ever leaving that interior life, you will be able to carry out all your external duties with even greater care. Dwell with Him continuously in your heart. He will be your strength. Communicate with creatures only in so far as is necessary and is required by your duties. You are a dwelling place pleasing to the living God; in you He dwells continuously with love and delight. And the living presence of God, which you experience in a more vivid and distinct way, will confirm you, my daughter, in the things I have told you. Try to act in this way until Christmas Day, and then He Himself will make known to you in what way you will be communing and uniting yourself with Him.
That Advent was a time for St. Faustina to experience the presence of Jesus in her heart. It is almost as if Our Lady was allowing Faustina to see what it was like to carry Jesus inside, much like Our Lady carried Him as her preborn baby. That Advent was a time for St. Faustina to give Jesus a place to rest. A place to be loved. A place to be adored. A place to feel affection and kindness. A place to be accepted and worshiped.
St. Faustina was given the grace to be aware of Jesus in a special and intimate way. Again, this is the kind of awareness that a pregnant mother has of her little child. Only a mother knows the constant companionship that takes place between them, when for nine months that child rests in the mother’s womb. It is this kind of indwelling that bonds the child and mother. As Our Lady said to Faustina: “You are a dwelling place pleasing to the living God, in you He dwells continuously with love and delight.” Wow! This is amazing!!
Maybe Our Lady wants us to grow more silent and prayerful so that we can give Jesus a place to rest in us. Maybe she wants Jesus to have just such an intimate relationship with us, a time of silence and prayer that will bond us to Jesus forever!
“Dear children! Today, as a mother, I am calling you to conversion. This time is for you, little children, a time of silence and prayer…”
May it be so!
In Jesus, Mary and Joseph!
Cathy Nolan
©Mary TV 2019
