The Nativity

 

If Mary had not agreed to become the mother of Jesus, there would be no Christmas today. If Joseph had not agreed to become the stepfather of Jesus, who knows what would have happened? Mary and her son would have been vulnerable and unprotected. But the story of Jesus and his mission here on earth unfolded exactly as God intended. It is the choice of human beings whether they accept it or not. Have you opened your heart to the Christ Child? Have you accepted his humility and peace? It is easy to become discouraged in a fast-paced world that has no regard for spiritual or moral values. But Mary was a virtuous woman who brought the Light of God into the world. Let's remember his teachings as we celebrate with family and friends.

Merry Christmas!

Dawn Pisturino

December 23, 2022

Copyright 2022 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.

Winds Through the Olive Trees

I sang this Christmas carol in choir when I was a child, and its haunting melody never left me. I recently looked up the lyrics because it's a carol that's not very often heard.

Winds Through the Olive Trees

Winds through the olive trees,
Softly did blow.
Round little Bethlehem,
Long, long ago.

Sheep on the hillside lay
Whiter than snow,
Shepherds were watching them,
Long, long ago.

Then from the happy skies
Angels bent low,
Singing their songs of joy;
Long, long ago.

For in a manger bed
Cradled we know,
Christ came to Bethlehem
Long, long ago.

* * *
Such a beautiful pastoral scene! Peace, comfort, and joy abound in this simple song. We can easily envision the parental happiness of Joseph and Mary with their newborn baby boy. Their simple faith and profound trust in God's will laid the groundwork for Christ's mission later on: to bring God's all-embracing love into the world.

On January 6, 2020, we remembered the visit of the Three Wise Men to the baby Jesus. These learned men, bearing magnificent and meaningful gifts, humbled themselves before an innocent babe. In their wisdom, they saw the great sacrifice this child would make for the entire world. They foresaw Mary's great burden of grief. But they also saw the hope and salvation that future generations would receive. They protected the Holy Child from Herod's greedy grasp, fully understanding that the world would never be the same again.

Dawn Pisturino
Copyright 2020 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.

The Seven Sorrows of Mary Devotion

Mother of Sorrows

During the 14th century, St. Bridget of Sweden (1303-1373) received a revelation from the Virgin Mary that seven graces would be granted to anyone who made devotions to the Holy Mother and her Seven Sorrows.

The Seven Sorrows

1. The prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:34, 35).
2. The flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13,14).
3. The loss of the Child Jesus in the temple (Luke 2:43-45).
4. The meeting of Jesus and Mary on the Way of the Cross.
5. The Crucifixion.
6. The piercing of the side of Jesus and the taking down of the Body of Jesus from the Cross.
7. The burial of Jesus.

The Seven Graces

1. Peace in the family.
2. Enlightenment about divine mysteries.
3. Consolation in times of pain. The Mother's presence in the devotee's work.
4. Prayers granted as long as they do not conflict with the will of God and the sanctification of souls.
5. Help in spiritual battles and constant protection.
6. Help and comfort at the moment of death. Devotees will see the Holy Mother's face.
7. All sins forgiven. Devotees will bypass purgatory and be taken directly into heaven.

The Seven Sorrows Devotion

Honor the Holy Blessed Mother daily by saying seven Hail Mary's with each of the seven sorrows and meditating on her tears and sorrows.

A Seven Sorrows Prayer

Holy Mother, you willingly endured the pain and suffering along with your son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. You felt every pain. You wept at every blow. You suffered the way all mothers suffer when their children are taken away from this world. We suffer with you. And honor your great love and devotion. Through Jesus Christ Our Lord, Amen.

Dawn Pisturino
November 11, 2019
Copyright 2019 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.

Help America

There are many books, CDs, and DVDs available to help us pray the Rosary. Please pray ceaselessly to the Virgin Mary to HELP AMERICA. Our country is under attack by people who want to end our religious freedom, our freedom of speech, and our ability to make independent decisions. With God's help, we can defeat the forces of evil that are trying to harm America and the American people.

Dawn Pisturino

June 13, 2019

Copyright 2013 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved. 

Mary: The Ivory Tower

Mary is often called "Turris Eburnea," the Ivory Tower. When the apostles denied Christ and ran away from Roman persecution, Mary stood at the foot of the cross and remained an ivory tower of strength for her son, Jesus Christ. She demonstrated her love, humility, and strength, steadfast in her faith and devotion to God. She is a role model for all women and all Christians everywhere.

The day after Palm Sunday 2019, Notre Dame burned down in Paris. This remarkable Gothic structure was a tower of strength which survived war, revolution, and secularism. But impotent French officials allowed it to burn to the ground. These officials, so deeply entrenched in secularism and socialism, have vowed to rebuild it. But the spiritual love and devotion which inspired the original Notre Dame may be gone forever. I pray that I am wrong. I pray that the people of France will reclaim their Catholic heritage and find renewed strength in their faith. I pray that they will defeat the evil of socialism and the intolerance of the European Union. I pray that Europe and Great Britain will return to our Lord, Jesus Christ, and build a new Union of Faith that will last forever.

A few days later, a professor attempted to burn down St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City. St. Patrick's has long been a symbol of Catholic unity in a city which has been corrupted by liberal politics and insanity. Thankfully, this attack was foiled. But I pray it will be a wake-up call to the people of New York that something is dreadfully wrong in their city. An attack on St. Patrick's is an attack on God Himself. It's an attack on freedom. It's an attack on the United States Constitution, which grants religious liberty to all believers.

During this Holy Week, I pray that ALL Catholics and ALL Christians will band together in the name of Jesus Christ to defend America, our religious freedom, our faith, and our remarkable President.

Dawn Pisturino
April 18, 2019
Copyright 2019 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.

Mary is My Mother

 

 

Mary is My Mother

 

by Dawn Pisturino

 

 

During one of the darkest periods of my life, Mary walked with me and held my hand. She showered me with hope, draped me in her warm reassurance, and blessed me with knowledge of her powerful rosary.

 

You see, Mary is my mother. I know that I can count on her unconditional love and acceptance. I know that I can run to her for comfort in times of pain.

 

She is my guiding light, my solid rock, my consoling balm.

 

I love her.

 

Mary is my mother.

 

February 7, 2017

 

Coyright 2017 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved. 

Mary, Undoer of Knots

 

 

 

Painting by Johann Georg Melchior Schmidtner

 

St. Irenaeus of Lyons wrote in his work, Adversus haereses, that "the knot of Eve's disobedience was loosed by the obedience of Mary. For what the virgin Eve had bound fast through unbelief, this did the virgin Mary set free through faith."

 

In 1989, in Styria, Austria, the first chapel was dedicated to Mary, the Undoer of Knots, in response to the nuclear accident in Chernobyl, Russia.

 

Pope Francis has inspired increased devotion, especially in Argentina and Brazil. A nine day novena can be performed by adding the rosary when saying the following prayer:

 

O Virgin Mary, faithful Mother who never refuses

to come to the aid of your children;

Mother whose hands never cease to help,

because they are moved by the loving kindness

that exists in your Immaculate Heart;

Cast your eyes of compassion upon me,

and see the snarl of knots that exist in my life.

 

You know all the pains and sorrows

caused by these tangled knots.

Mary, my Mother, I entrust to your loving hands

the entire ribbon of my life.

In your hands there is no knot

which cannot be undone.

 

Most holy Mother,

pray for Divine Assistance to come to my aid.

Take this knot (make your personal request here)

into your maternal hands this day;

I beg you to undo it for the glory of God,

once and for all,

in the name of your divine Son, Jesus Christ.

Amen.

 

Dawn Pisturino

Copyright 2016 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.

 



 

The Angelus

Artwork by Jean Francois Millet

"The Angelus"

V.  The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary,

R.  And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

      Hail Mary, full of Grace . . .

V.  Behold the handmaid of the Lord.

R.  Be it done unto me according to Thy word.

      Hail Mary, full of Grace . . .

V.  And the Word was made flesh.

R.  And dwelt among us.

      Hail Mary, full of grace . . .

V.  Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.

R.  That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray.  Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts, that we to whom the Incarnation of Christ, thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross, be brought to the glory of His Resurrection.

Through the same Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

 

The Angelus prayer developed over several centuries into its present form and is traditionally recited at 6 am, 12 noon, and 6 pm. In some places, it is accompanied by a bell. This wonderful Marian devotion reminds us that Mary said "Yes!" when the Angel Gabriel delivered God's request that she become the mother of His Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. 

 

Dawn Pisturino

Meditations on the Sorrowful Mysteries

 

The First Sorrowful Mystery: The Agony in the Garden

 

When Mary agreed to be the mother of Jesus, did she understand the great mission He would fulfill?

 

The agony in the garden represents Jesus' moment of Truth. He has come to the end of His ministry and the beginning of the fulfillment of His great destiny. He has agreed to become a willing sacrifice to the Great Work of God, His father.

 

What are we willing to sacrifice in our own lives for God?

 

The Second Sorrowful Mystery: The Scourging at the Pillar

 

Jesus suffers pain, loss, and humiliation at the hands of His enemies. From the moment of Judas' betrayal, Jesus is stripped of His dignity, humbled, and punished.

 

 How many times have we been betrayed by a friend, a husband, a lover, a family member? We remember the pain, the humiliation, the loss of dignity and self-respect.

 

Jesus forgave His enemies. Do we have the strength to do the same? 

 

The Third Sorrowful Mystery: The Crowning with Thorns

 

When Jesus is crowned with thorns, His enemies believed they were humiliating Him and making fun of Him. But this crowning foreshadows Jesus' ultimate victory.

 

We too will achieve ultimate victory over our enemies and our sins, if we are humble, steadfast, and patient.

 

The Fourth Sorrowful Mystery: The Carrying of the Cross

 

Such weight! Such burden! Jesus carried the sins of mankind on His back, along with the Cross. He stumbled and fell but never wavered on His journey.

 

What burdens do we carry on our backs? What crosses do we bear? Do we bear them happily and willingly, for the sake of God? Or, do we grumble and fret, looking to free ourselves?

 

Love God and trust in His mercy.

 

The Fifth Sorrowful Mystery: The Crucifixion

 

Mary stood at the foot of the Cross, weeping, as her beloved son's life slipped away. Darkness filled the world. But Mary never gave up hope. She trusted in God's will while waiting for Her son's resurrection. She forgave His enemies and gave comfort to the apostles. She became a mother to all mankind.

 

We honor Mary for her love, strength, and devotion. She raises us up, just like she raised her beloved son, Jesus.

 

Dawn Pisturino

Copyright 2015 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.

 

Meditations on the Joyful Mysteries

 

by Dawn Pisturino

 

 

 

THE FIRST JOYFUL MYSTERY: The Annunciation

 

 

There would be no Christmas without Mary and Joseph.

 

Mary answered the call to serve God by agreeing to become the mother of Jesus.  She supported Jesus throughout his ministry, suffering as He suffered, and growing in her faith, despite the terrible death of her son. 

 

Joseph overcame his doubts and fears and accepted the responsibility of becoming a stepfather to Mary's son. He loved and protected the blessed infant and his mother. He stands as a role model for all men everywhere. 

 

THE SECOND JOYFUL MYSTERY: The Visitation

 

 

What joy Elizabeth felt when she recognized the special gift growing in Mary's womb! What joy she felt when her own son, John, leapt in her own womb!  Both women, blessed by God, helped to change the world. This is the special gift of all mothers, that their children have the power to create a better world for all God's children.

 

 

THE THIRD JOYFUL MYSTERY: The Nativity

 

The King arrives as a simple child, guileless, innocent, and vulnerable. His complete purity of mind, heart, and body reminds us that we, too, were born innocent. The world takes away that innocence, and it is in worshipping the small, innocent child that we regain our own purity. Kneel down to the King and worship Him.

 

KEEP CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS

 

THE FOURTH JOYFUL MYSTERY: The Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple

 

Mary fulfilled her duties and presented her child to the Temple and to God, his father. So, too, can we fulfill our duties by attending Mass and presenting ourselves to God, our father.

 

THE FIFTH JOYFUL MYSTERY: The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple

 

Just as Jesus got about His father's business in the Temple, so, too, must we educate ourselves, be familiar with the Gospels and the teachings of the Catholic Church, and be about our Father's business.

 

PRAY THE ROSARY DAILY

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

Dawn Pisturino

 

copyright 2014 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.