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Spirit of
Saragossa Retreat:
From 1 – 30 November 2007, five members of the Society of Mary participated in
the full 30-day Saragossa Retreat in Ranchi, India. They were:
¯Joseph Chittibabu and Antony Nesam who made their perpetual vows on
December 8;
¯Charles Kimeu of the District of Eastern Africa who made his perpetual vows on
January 6;
¯Marianus Lugun and James Dungdung of the District of India who were ordained on
January 5;
¯The directors of the retreat were: Les Kaehler (US Province) and Martin Solma
(District of Eastern Africa).
As part of the retreat, each participant and director wrote an “Act of
Consecration” which was then used as part of a retreat liturgy. We
offer these prayers below.
Acts of Consecration
“Spirit of Saragossa” Retreat
1-30 November 2007 - Ranchi, India
For the glory of the Most Holy Trinity,
to make Mary better known, loved and served,
for my own holiness and that of all my
brothers and sisters,
I……………….. renew my promises to live for a
lifetime the vows of
chastity, poverty, obedience and stability
as a member of the Society of Mary,
never refusing it my cooperation.
Thank you, Lord, for your faithful love over
these past 50 years.
I proclaim with Mary the great things you have
done for your love one.
May the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit
Be glorified in all places through the
Immaculate Virgin Mary. Amen
(Lester Kaehler, SM)
Blessed Virgin Mary,
you were faithful to God and followed His
ways,
even when you did not understand.
You opened yourself for the Holy Spirit to fill
you,
to possess you and to lead you.
Help me, your son, to imitate your spirit of
poverty
and to be simple enough to believe that God loves me.
May my root and foundation for mission be love.
As the Wisdom of God dwelt in you,
may this
same Wisdom dwell in me and be with me,
always at work in me.
May He mold me, ceaselessly perfect me,
and
operate in the depths of my being,
so as to make me holy.
May Christ always make His home in my heart
through faith.
Glory be to God
Who is able to do so much more
than I can ever ask or even think of. Amen.
(Charles Kimeu, SM)
O Precious Gift of God and gift to human
beings,
sensitive to the needs of human beings,
intercede for us with your Beloved Son.
As I come to participate in your Son’s mission,
make me an instrument of humility and peace;
penetrate my heart and soul with your love
as I embrace your call to follow and to
walk under your banner.
Make me proud to be your soldier.
Transform all my efforts for the glory of your
Son who brought salvation to us.
O Mother of God and my mother, give me the
heart of love and care
so that I may not live but Christ may live
in me.
May I be able to accept all people as my
brothers and sisters,
whomever I may come across in my ministry.
May people come to know that I am a follower of
you and of your Son. Amen.
(Chittibabu Joseph)
O Most Holy Virgin Mary,
Mother of Jesus and mother of all humankind,
I honor you wholeheartedly for listening to
the Word of God and trusting in Him.
All the wonders and works He did through
you!
I honor you, Mother, for your readiness to
cooperate in God’s plan of salvation
for the whole of humanity.
I honor you, my dearest Mother,
for your complete dedication to God with
full trust, hope and faithfulness.
You were chosen to be the Mother of God and,
therefore, you are blessed among women,
exalted on earth and in heaven for bringing
the Lord Jesus Christ,
our Redeemer and Savior, into this world.
He saved us from eternal damnation by
sacrificing Himself on the cross,
gaining salvation for us by shedding His
blood.
Mother Mary, I dedicate and surrender myself
into your care today.
Help me to understand the mystery of the
Incarnation – the Word Made Flesh –
God becoming man.
Help me to understand the mystery of the Cross
on which Jesus completely emptied Himself
for my sake.
Mother, teach me the meaning of suffering and
dying for others
and totally emptying myself for others.
Most Holy Mother,
form me more and more into the likeness of
your son, Jesus.
At the time of pain and sorrow and total
abandonment, when darkness surrounds me,
increase my faith and help me to trust God
and God alone.
O Most Holy Virgin and Mother,
as I vow to follow your Son, Jesus, more
closely and dearly
with total openness to God’s will and to the
Spirit,
help me to dedicate myself fully and
commit myself completely through the vows
of chastity, poverty, obedience and
stability,
and to bring forth Jesus into this world
through my service,
especially as an ordained minister to
all people.
Most Loving Mother Mary,
mold me and form me as you formed your son,
Jesus,
and assist me to keep my zeal, enthusiasm,
love, and perseverance in your Society
and its mission to make you known, loved
and served.
Lead us all to your son, Jesus, who is our Lord
and God forever and ever.
May the Father, and the Son, and the Holy
Spirit
be gloried in all places through the Immaculate Virgin
Mary. Amen.
(Marianus Lugun, SM)
O Most Holy Virgin Mary of Nazareth,
at the Annunciation you consented in faith
to God’s plan for salvation.
You show the greatest faith up to and beyond
the foot of the cross.
From that cross, our Savior, Jesus Christ,
proclaimed you our mother.
I behold and contemplate your mysterious
sanctity.
I unite myself to your maternal charity.
I accept the will of God in faith as you did.
I dedicate myself to you, Mother of the
Redeemer,
surrendering my life in the service of your
mission
in the Society of Mary for my entire life.
Amen.
(James Dungdung, SM)
Mary,
I pray to you every day and at every moment of
my life
with new vision and new wisdom.
It is the grace that your son, Jesus Christ,
gave to me.
Loving Mother,
through your son’s life, may I be able to
reach out to the poor in every way,
making known the mystery of your son.
Everlasting Mother,
help me to understand your son’s mystical
life
that I might be able to share in your son’s
victory
and share that victory with many people in
many ways.
I make this prayer through Jesus, your Son.
Amen.
(Anthony Nesam, SM)
Take my mind, O Mary,
that I might know and understand the ways of
God.
Take my memory, O Mary,
that I might always keep God’s wonders in
view.
Take my imagination, O Mary,
that I might bring creativity and newness to
the mission.
Take my eyes, O Mary,
that I might see God in all things and
through all things.
Take my hearing, O Mary,
that I might discern God’s call and be
obedient.
Take my tongue, O Mary,
that O might speak with grace and charity.
Take my hands, O Mary,
that I might work with zeal and tenderness.
Take my feet, O Mary,
that I might always go where I am sent and
carry Christ’s Good News.
Take my knees, O Mary,
that I might pray always and without
ceasing, knowing my need for God.
Take my heart, O Mary,
that I might always love Christ above all
things,
that I might make a home for you in love
where you can form me into Christ,
that I might always be consecrated to you
and to your mission
of giving flesh to the Word
and bringing Christ to birth in our
world. Amen. (Martin Solma, SM) |
