Diocesan May Crowning

[Theologian in Training]

So, we have our Diocesan May Crowning here, for some reason, and the bishop asked me to be the one preaching in English (someone else for the Spanish). It is this Monday and I need prayers, not because I don't know how to preach on Mary, I love preaching on Mary, but how I am going to prepare a homily for many many people and condense it to 2-3 minutes (bishop was specific).

So, please say a couple of prayers, maybe a Hail Mary or two on my behalf...


Thanks and God Bless

Fr. Brian

[cappie]

[url="http://campus.udayton.edu/mary//meditations/crownmed.html"]http://campus.udayton.edu/mary//meditations/crownmed.html[/url]

[Theologian in Training]

My name is also in the Diocesan newspaper...I hate publicity...

[Lil Red]

you will do great!! you always do : be sure to post it when you've got it written!

[Theologian in Training]

So, it is tonight, and, after talking with parishoners, staff, and other priests, I am going to use my meditation on the "Hail Mary." It sounds as though there will be more people from outside the parish that from the parish, so I can recycle this homily. Besides, many people seem to enjoy this homily, and would not mind hearing it again, even if it was posted in the bulletin Now, understand I am not being lazy, I just think it is the most fitting and the most appropriate for this occasion and for what the Diocesan May Crowning is all about. I added a few "tweaks" and may add a few more, but this is more or less what it is:....oh, and BTW, it is a little bit longer than 3 minutes, I think last time I timed it, almost 4.

Today, we come together to commemorate that time when a humble woman from Nazareth became a queen, and not just any queen, the queen of Heaven and of earth, because She became the mother of a king. And, in today’s Gospel we are given one of the most beautiful ways of honoring this great queen: The “Hail Mary.” A prayer that has fallen from the lips of countless saints to even our own family and friends. Yet, given this beautiful prayer, when we pray it, when I pray it, I wonder if it is entirely clear what it is we are actually praying. It is with this then that I would like to offer a little meditation on this prayer.

[b][i]“Hail, Mary.”[/b][/i]
The first time we are introduced to Mary is with these words from an angel, a woman completely unknown, a virgin from Nazareth, greeted as a queen would be greeted. Is it any wonder why She would be greatly troubled by such an invocation? Her whole world changed with that greeting and with Her consent. Gabriel spoke thus and we repeat this simple salutation.

[b][i]“Full of Grace”[/b][/i]
To be full means there is no room for anything else, to be filled to capacity, to the point of overflowing. That is why Mary can dispense such grace, Her grace, to us.

[b][i]“The Lord is with Thee”[/b][/i]
Indeed. For, first She was overshadowed by the Holy Spirit, and then bore a Son, our Emmanuel, in Her womb. She is the first and most beautiful tabernacle.

[b][i]“Blessed art thou, amongst women”[/b][/i]
These are the first words out of Elizabeth’s mouth, upon seeing her cousin. Her child leapt in her womb and she knew the Holy Spirit was with Mary. She is not only blessed, but blessed among all women, because no other woman in history bore God Himself, nor will any other woman do so in the future.

[b][i]“And blessed if the fruit of thy womb”[/b][/i]
And yet, this is why Mary is so blessed, this is what makes Mary so great, the fruit of her womb.

[b][i]“Jesus”[/b][/i]
As a mother introduces her child, so too does Mary introduce us to Her child as well.

A child, whose name is both the hinge and the supporting structure of this prayer, the pinnacle, the person to whom it points, the life of whom it remembers.

[b][i]“Holy Mary”[/b][/i]
The most humble woman, the most powerful saint, our great model of sanctity, the sublime example of holiness. To be truly holy we must be truly humble and to be humble we have to be, as Mary was, a mere vessel through which Christ can work. She was told She would bear God Himself and simply said, “Be it done unto me according to your word.”

[b][i]“Mother of God”[/b][/i]
A child only dwells in the womb of the mother. God chose Mary’s womb. She is the Mother of God. Yet, before He died Christ gave us His Mother at the foot of the cross to be our help, our hope, and our protection. "Woman, behold, your son!" Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!"

[b][i]“Pray, for us sinners”[/b][/i]
All of us are great sinners and in need of great prayer. What better person, then the greatest of all saints to offer Her prayers for us, on our behalf. Constantly interceding for us that we may one day see Her, only for Her to bring us to Her Son.

[b][i]“Now, and at the hour of our death”[/b][/i]
How beautiful to know that She intercedes for us even now, but, even more, in our final hours here on earth. What an amazing Mother to want nothing but the best for Her children, to see us ultimately united with Her Son.

[b][i]“Amen”[/b][/i]
So be it, let it be.

[homeschoolmom]

[quote name='Theologian in Training' post='1275806' date='May 17 2007, 02:16 PM']My name is also in the Diocesan newspaper...I hate publicity...[/quote]
Hmmmm... another clue...

[Theologian in Training]

[quote name='homeschoolmom' post='1278580' date='May 21 2007, 02:38 PM']Hmmmm... another clue...
[/quote]

I thought you already knew...actually, I know you already know, because I recall getting a card from you a while back...

[homeschoolmom]

[quote name='Theologian in Training' post='1278581' date='May 21 2007, 01:40 PM']I thought you already knew...actually, I know you already know, because I recall getting a card from you a while back...[/quote]

[Theologian in Training]

[quote name='homeschoolmom' post='1278583' date='May 21 2007, 02:43 PM'][/quote]

What is really scary is that the vocations office called me the other day telling me that someone googled his name, which happens to also be mine, and wanted to talk to me. She did not give him the number (thank God) but that is just a little too strange.

[homeschoolmom]

[quote name='Theologian in Training' post='1278592' date='May 21 2007, 01:46 PM']What is really scary is that the vocations office called me the other day telling me that someone googled his name, which happens to also be mine, and wanted to talk to me. She did not give him the number (thank God) but that is just a little too strange. [/quote]
Okay... that was not me at all. I'm just a friendly part-time stalker. I don't stalk in seriousness... (remember, I don't know your name other than Fr. Brian. )

[Theologian in Training]

OK, other than the whole stalking thing, what do you think of the idea to use the recycled homily?

[Theologian in Training]

Ok, now I am nervous...please pray...

[homeschoolmom]

[homeschoolmom]

[quote name='Theologian in Training' post='1278569' date='May 21 2007, 01:20 PM']So, it is tonight, and, after talking with parishoners, staff, and other priests, I am going to use my meditation on the "Hail Mary." It sounds as though there will be more people from outside the parish that from the parish, so I can recycle this homily. Besides, many people seem to enjoy this homily, and would not mind hearing it again, even if it was posted in the bulletin Now, understand I am not being lazy, I just think it is the most fitting and the most appropriate for this occasion and for what the Diocesan May Crowning is all about. I added a few "tweaks" and may add a few more, but this is more or less what it is:....oh, and BTW, it is a little bit longer than 3 minutes, I think last time I timed it, almost 4.

Today, we come together to commemorate that time when a humble woman from Nazareth became a queen, and not just any queen, the queen of Heaven and of earth, because She became the mother of a king. And, in today’s Gospel we are given one of the most beautiful ways of honoring this great queen: The “Hail Mary.” A prayer that has fallen from the lips of countless saints to even our own family and friends. Yet, given this beautiful prayer, when we pray it, when I pray it, I wonder if it is entirely clear what it is we are actually praying. It is with this then that I would like to offer a little meditation on this prayer.

[b][i]“Hail, Mary.”[/b][/i]
The first time we are introduced to Mary is with these words from an angel, a woman completely unknown, a virgin from Nazareth, greeted as a queen would be greeted. Is it any wonder why She would be greatly troubled by such an invocation? Her whole world changed with that greeting and with Her consent. Gabriel spoke thus and we repeat this simple salutation.

[b][i]“Full of Grace”[/b][/i]
To be full means there is no room for anything else, to be filled to capacity, to the point of overflowing. That is why Mary can dispense such grace, Her grace, to us.

[b][i]“The Lord is with Thee”[/b][/i]
Indeed. For, first She was overshadowed by the Holy Spirit, and then bore a Son, our Emmanuel, in Her womb. She is the first and most beautiful tabernacle.

[b][i]“Blessed art thou, amongst women”[/b][/i]
These are the first words out of Elizabeth’s mouth, upon seeing her cousin. Her child leapt in her womb and she knew the Holy Spirit was with Mary. She is not only blessed, but blessed among all women, because no other woman in history bore God Himself, nor will any other woman do so in the future.

[b][i]“And blessed if the fruit of thy womb”[/b][/i]
And yet, this is why Mary is so blessed, this is what makes Mary so great, the fruit of her womb.

[b][i]“Jesus”[/b][/i]
As a mother introduces her child, so too does Mary introduce us to Her child as well.

A child, whose name is both the hinge and the supporting structure of this prayer, the pinnacle, the person to whom it points, the life of whom it remembers.

[b][i]“Holy Mary”[/b][/i]
The most humble woman, the most powerful saint, our great model of sanctity, the sublime example of holiness. To be truly holy we must be truly humble and to be humble we have to be, as Mary was, a mere vessel through which Christ can work. She was told She would bear God Himself and simply said, “Be it done unto me according to your word.”

[b][i]“Mother of God”[/b][/i]
A child only dwells in the womb of the mother. God chose Mary’s womb. She is the Mother of God. Yet, before He died Christ gave us His Mother at the foot of the cross to be our help, our hope, and our protection. "Woman, behold, your son!" Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!"

[b][i]“Pray, for us sinners”[/b][/i]
All of us are great sinners and in need of great prayer. What better person, then the greatest of all saints to offer Her prayers for us, on our behalf. Constantly interceding for us that we may one day see Her, only for Her to bring us to Her Son.

[b][i]“Now, and at the hour of our death”[/b][/i]
How beautiful to know that She intercedes for us even now, but, even more, in our final hours here on earth. What an amazing Mother to want nothing but the best for Her children, to see us ultimately united with Her Son.

[b][i]“Amen”[/b][/i]
So be it, let it be.[/quote]
I like it.

[Theologian in Training]

A lot of people like it, and most every parishoner forgot that I not only preached it but also had it in the bulletin...God bless forgetfulness

Anyway, the bishop loved it, and told me many times how much he loved it, and three people asked me to email it to them...so it all worked out...but, man, that is nerve wracking...