Mary Magdalene by Kathleen Carr

And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him”  John 20:13

At the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Nashville, TN the crucifix depicts John and the Blessed Virgin standing at the foot of the cross and Mary Magdalene is in a heap at the foot of the Cross.

I have to admit this is how I feel right now.  Mary Magdalene who had been possessed by 7 demons, had been freed from them into a life of joy.  So when they took Him from her to crucify Him, of course she would be in a heap.  She didn’t leave or run away, she stayed, but the sorrow of what they had done leaves her on the ground.

I sobbed this week when Mass was taken away.  In my past, I was tormented by demons speaking into my life before Jesus delivered me.   For me it was an oppression, but the voices were deafening.  And my Savior delivered me.  And now I can’t receive Him.   I did weep in a heap on the ground.

Through all of this Christ has told me not to judge.  Though many of us have seen this coming, and we cried out to people to convert, he tells me not to judge them.  It is no coincidence to me that earlier this week on March 17, 2020 the Gospel was about the unmerciful servant.  It ends by stating;

I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to.
Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant,
as I had pity on you?’
Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers
until he should pay back the whole debt.
So will my heavenly Father do to you,
unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart. Matthew 18:32-35

Those torturers are the Spirits of Fear, Depression, Anxiety, and Rage.  Satan is doing his best to make us live in that space.  A space where our hearts remain hardened and we live without charity.  I could get stuck here.  Stuck in the bitterness.  But Christ wants us to forgive everything.  He is dealing with the sin.  He sees the abuse in worship, the molestation of children, the cover up, the rampant immorality in society, the church living the way of the world, and what it has done to our souls.  He wants me to focus on the enemy with enmity and to love other people without judgment.  He is drawing us back, and we will all be humbled.  We are not in control.  Our posture should be prostration before the Lord.  Our action to pray without ceasing and to live in faith and charity.  Do not let your hearts be hardened, lest you be like the virgins without oil in their lamps.  The wise virgins could not give oil from their lamps to the foolish ones because Aquinas says their lack of oil was the disposition of the heart that was not open to the theological virtue of Charity gifted by God.

But the wise ones replied, ‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.  While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. Then the door was locked. Afterwards the other virgins came and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’  But he said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.  Matthew 25:9-13

We must always live in charity and love.  And we must fight intelligently.  All of our Holy Hatred must be aimed at Satan.  We must confess and purge ourselves of sin and we must love others.

The Holy Father has asked everyone to pray a Rosary today at 9:00 p.m. Rome time.  That is 4:00 p.m. Eastern, 3:00 p.m. Central, 2:00 p.m. Mountain, and 1:00 p.m. Pacific.  Let us heed his call.  Mary Queen of the Universe is a powerful intercessor.

Edwin Havas oil on canvas 1991 – Mary Queen of the Universe

And let us also not forget that today is the Feast of Saint Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church and Terror of Demons.  Consecrate yourself to him.

Consecration Prayer

O Glorious Patriarch and Patron of the Church!  O Virgin Spouse of the Virgin Mother of God!  O Guardian and Virginal Father of the Word Incarnate!  In the Presence of Jesus and Mary, I choose you this day to be my father, my guardian, and my protector.

O great Saint Joseph, whom God has made the Head of the Holy Family, accept me, I beseech you, though utterly unworthy, to be a member of your “Holy House.”  Present me to your Immaculate Spouse; ask her to adopt me as her child.  With her, pray that I may constantly think of Jesus, and serve him faithfully to the end of my life.  O Terror of Demons, increase in me virtue, protect me from the evil one, and help me not offend God in any way.

O Spiritual Father, I hereby consecrate myself to you.  In faithful imitation of Jesus and Mary, I place all my concerns under your protection.  To you, after Jesus and Mary, I consecrate my body and soul, with all their faculties, my spiritual growth, my home, and all my affairs and undertakings.  Forsake me not, but adopt me as a servant child of the Holy Family.  Watch over me at all times, but especially at the hour of my death.  Console and strengthen me with the presence of Jesus and Mary so that, with you, I may praise and adore the Holy Trinity for all eternity.  Amen.

Lastly, encourage all to pray;  regardless of denomination.  Pray 3 Our Fathers at 3 o’clock today wherever you are for an end to this virus.  If you for whatever reason, you miss praying at the appropriate time, pray anyway, and ask God, who is outside of time, to unite your prayer with other believers.  We are being made uncomfortable.  Give thanksgiving for all that you have and don’t cease to praise God.

Pray, pray, pray without ceasing.  Stay safe and be at peace.

I leave you with a song made for this time.

Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Phillipians 4:7