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| LETTER FROM THE CHAPLAIN: |
| Ray and Jane, lovers of prayer and piety, models for AoM
Dear AoMs, One of the objectives of the League is to assist its members in acquiring a life of prayer and of piety with the guidance of the chaplain and the spiritual directors (1). Indeed, if we are zealous to make you part of us, it is for that noble cause. It is our constant desire to help you become pious Catholics. Yes, we admit that to set sight on this thing make us sound rather presumptuous since we also are weak human being, yet the thought of it doesn’t dishearten us because, in the first place, it is not us who will change your hearts, but it’s mainly God’s grace; we are just unprofitable servants, trying hard, according to the means that God has given us, to do that which we ought to do. The charter(2) reminds you of your conviction to develop the life of God in you, and in the Constitution(3), you are further reminded that it is your primary duty, as apostles of Mary, to strive to sanctify yourselves. Yes, you must be pious, dear friends, if you want to be worthy of your name, and to be ever pleasing to God. To be pious means to love God with all your heart and gladly pray and do your other duties. If you want to be really and truly good AoM you must do everything for the love of God and carefully avoid every sin. To give you a good picture on how you ought to put prayer into your daily life, allow me to tell you about the life of a young man whose name is Ray and of a young lady whose name is Jane. I have a great esteem to these young people and I consider them as superb models for all AoMs. Both are great lovers of prayer and piety. So what I’m going to tell you about Ray’s daily life is applied to Jane too. Ray’s rule of life starts in this manner, in the morning he arises promptly and just when he is supposed to arise. As soon as he is out of the bed he devoutly makes the sign of cross and says, “Dear Jesus, thanks for this night’s kind protection. Through Mary, I offer every moment of this precious day to Thee. All for Thee, most Sacred Heart of Jesus.” Ray does not see why he should not be happy and grateful. “God has been so good to me,” he thinks. “He made me for Himself; then Jesus died for me, to reopen the gates of heaven; and now He is giving me another precious day in which to merit heaven, to store up treasures there.” As soon as he has dressed and washed himself he kneels down by his bed and says a good morning prayer, for which he uses a prayer-book, reading the prayers slowly and devoutly; or else he simply recites the prayers that are in the catechism. This he does every day. I really do not know of a single day when he ever omitted his morning prayers. Nor do I know of a single time when he omitted his evening prayers, which he says in a similar way before he goes to bed. And I might as well mention here that Ray also says his little prayers before and after each meal. He doesn’t care whether others do it or not. He says “Please” and “Thanks” to others when he wants something or gets something, and he doesn’t see why he shouldn’t say it to God too. Then there’s Holy Mass. Ray knows that it is the Mass that matters most of all, that nothing is greater and more pleasing to God than that Adorable Sacrifice. So he never misses Mass on Sundays and holidays of obligation—never through his own fault. He goes to Mass on weekdays, too, whenever he gets a chance. He knows he doesn’t have to, but he simply wants to, because he knows that by devoutly assisting at Holy Mass he can offer God infinite adoration, thanksgiving, and satisfaction, and can obtain from Him anything he wants. For him Mass is the great center of the Faith, as it should be for every Catholic. Then there’s Holy Communion. Ray goes to confession every week and to Communion every Sunday for sure, and as often as he can during the week besides. He goes because he knows that Jesus wants him to come and because he knows that he needs Jesus in order to be good and holy. He always makes a good preparation, of course, and a good thanksgiving; but he is wise enough to know that Communion is a part of Holy Mass, a partaking of the Sacrificial Banquet, and that a devout and intelligent hearing of Mass is already a very good preparation for Communion. Ray knows that Holy Mass comes first, Holy Communion next, and visits to the Blessed Sacrament in the third place. He tries to make a visit or two every day, since the church is not far away: “Why should I leave my best Friend all alone when I can make Him so happy by dropping in to see Him for a moment?” he says. Because of this Real Presence he never laughs or talks or looks around in church. He just thinks of the angels who surround the altar throne and tries to be like them. Of course, when services are being held he watches everything that is going on the altar and tries to understand the ceremonies and to enter into the spirit of the sacred liturgy. All Catholics should do that. After Jesus comes Mary. Ray knows this well, and it’s rightly so for he belongs, too, to a Marian youth group in his parish. He knows, also, that one who is constantly devoted to Mary may be sure of heaven; and he knows that to say the rosary daily is to practice constant devotion to the Mother of God. So he never omits his daily rosary. It only takes fifteen minutes, and he always finds that much time, no matter how busy he is. He always tries to meditate on the respective mysteries, and so, while the Hail Marys fall from his lips, he thinks over the whole life of Christ and His Blessed Mother a number of times each month. Ray, by the way, also recites the Angelus three times a day, in grateful remembrance of the Incarnation. He has a special devotion to St. Joseph, to his Guardian Angel, and to his patron saint. From morning to night he does everything with good intention. (“All for Thee, most Sacred Heart of Jesus.”) When evening comes he makes a three-minute examination of conscience with his evening prayer and an act of perfect contrition, so that if he should die during the night he may go straight to heaven. Don’t you think, dear AoMs that angels watch over the bed of such a lad? “Good heavens!” you exclaim. “But Ray must be on his knees all day long!” I should say not! He has his work, his study, his good times. But let’s do a little adding, just to find out how much time Ray gives God each day in a special way. Morning prayers ------------------------------ 10 minutes Evening prayers ------------------------------ 10 minutes Mass and Communion ----------------------- 45 minutes The Rosary and meditation ------------------- 20 minutes Prayers before and after meals --------------- 5 minutes in all The Angelus three times a day --------------- 5 “ “ “ ----------------------- 95 minutes in all Ninety five minutes out of 720 that are in each day--- that’s not too much to give to God, is it? Of course, Ray gives the whole day to God through the good intention, which means that by everything he does he wishes to honor God as the angels and the saints do in heaven. “Whether you eat or drink or whatsoever you do, do all for the glory of God,” St. Paul tells us. The good intention is made with the morning prayers or by simply saying before each more important task, for instance, “All for Thee, O Jesus.” It makes our work, our rest, even our innocent good time like prayer. Ray, by the way, knows that nothing helps one more to make the good intention and to walk in the presence of God than listening to instructions about God and holy things and reading books and magazines that speak of God—Catholic books and periodicals and writings of all kinds. Understanding Ray’s way of life, we can rightly conclude that he is a pious young man. He does everything to please God—everything that I have mentioned above and many other things too. He knows that he must obey parents, teachers, superiors; he does it to please Jesus and Mary. Often he must study and work when he would rather have fun: but he gives up the amusement for the love of Jesus. Sometimes his brothers, sisters, schoolmates, or others tease him, hurt his feelings, do him great wrongs, but remains patient and peaceful and will not pay back tit for tat--- because he wishes to please Jesus Who is meek and humble of heart. Now I suppose you’re beginning to think that Ray is “just it.” We’ll he is! But the Jane of whom I am thinking now is just as good. The world today needs people like Ray and Jane (Are you thinking of becoming like them?) They know the meaning of prayer and piety; and they are not afraid to put their knowledge into practice. Dear AoMs, to spend a day as Ray spends is not so hard after all--- in fact, that happiness that comes from goodness makes it easier than anything else. Try your best, this is your chief goal as AoM, to be a Ray always, or a Jane. Remember that “prayer is the Christian’s vital breath, the Christian’s native air, His watchword at the gate of death: He enters heaven with prayer.”(4) May the Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ wash away all our sins, and make us more holy! God bless you all! Fr. Roy Dolotina Footnotes: 1. The Charter of the Apostles, p.1 4. Fr. Herberst, S.D.S 2. AoM Constitution, Article VIII, Sec.1, pp.24 3. AoM Constitution, Article VIII, Sec.1, pp.24 |