“The Church sees in Mary the highest expression of the ‘feminine genius’ and she finds in her a source of constant inspiration.” – Pope St. John Paul II
Prayer for the Faithful at St. Francis Chapel
O Mother of Jesus, whose intercession strengthens the Church, conserve, increase and make fruitful this congregation at St. Francis Chapel. O Mary, you care for the brethren of your Son with a mother’s love; watch with maternal charity over all who rejoice today to be part of this family. Sustain our priests in their apostolate, protect travelers on their journeys, guide students who seek truth, heal the sick and afflicted, and be a bulwark for all the faithful who gather at this chapel in living out their vocations at home and in the marketplace. Blessed Mother, who have already reached the perfection of grace, mercifully pray for us that by the merits of your Son we shall increase in faith, hope and love till the consummation of heaven. Amen.
Reflection
Our Lady is crowned as Queen. This crowning is truly the crowning of the Lord’s own gifts. Just as we can merit through acts of virtue, so Our Lady merited much through her complete surrender to the will of God. But those merits are themselves gifts from God. The Lord desires that we become free in participating in His holy life. We are to reign with Him as Saints in the world to come. That has already begun with Our Lady. For truly she participates in the reign of her Son. We too are called to this order of merit.
Resolution
Part of the vocation of the laity is to order the world to the Kingdom of God. In this way, the baptized participate in the Kingship of Christ. To order the world to the Kingdom of God means to first, order your own actions so that everything you do – work, play, vocation – will be a sign of the Kingdom. Through witness to truth and love in the world, the Kingdom becomes present. Is there an area of your life that is not yet under the Lordship of Jesus? Today is a good day to begin to move that area of your life toward the Kingdom of God.