Our Lady in God's First Plan

Dear Diary,

This morning after we prayed the Morning Office, Sister Mary Claire explained something beautiful to me. She said Our Lady was never an afterthought with God. He had her in His loving mind from the very beginning, even before the earth, the mountains, and the waters were made. She was part of His first dear plan for Jesus and for the whole world.

While she was telling me this, I kept thinking about our old cement statue of Mary standing on the porch under the light. It has been in our family a very long time. Long ago it stood in the courtyard of a closed convent in Boston, where it had already been watching and waiting for about eighty years. That made Sister’s words feel even sweeter to me. The statue seemed like a quiet reminder that Our Lady has been lovingly remembered for a very long time by so many hearts.

I thought how lovely it is that before there was even a Littlemore Farm, God already knew His Blessed Mother and had chosen her for something holy. The porch light shone down on that old statue so softly, and it made me think of Mary standing peaceful and steady in God’s plan from the very beginning.

Evening Prayer

Dear Jesus, thank Thee for giving us Thy dear Mother in Thy first loving plan. Dear Mary, keep me close to thee tonight and always lead me to Jesus. Amen.

Love, Kathy

Morning Star

Dear Diary,

Today Sister Mary Claire and I worked on our little writing about one beautiful part of Matins, where Our Lady is called the Morning Star. Sister said that this is such a dear name because the morning star shines when the sky is still dark, but it tells us that daylight is coming. She said that is how Our Lady is for souls. She does not take the place of Jesus, who is the true Light, but she gently leads us to Him.

I liked that very much, and it made the prayer seem even sweeter to me. It felt like one little part of Matins opened up all bright and lovely, just from stopping and thinking about it awhile. Mini stayed near us while we worked, and once she looked up at Sister as if she were listening too.

It was a quiet and happy kind of study, and I felt thankful for that one shining thought from the prayer.

Love, Kathy.

Learning About Matins

Dear Diary,

This morning Sister Mary Claire explained Matins to me, and I liked it very much because it feels like the quiet beginning of the whole day.

She said it is like waking up our hearts for God. First, we ask for help to pray, and then we ask Our Lady to stay close and help us speak kindly and purely. Sister said when we say, “make speed to befriend me,” it means we are asking Mary to come quickly and take care of us.

Then we say the Glory be, which reminds us everything is for God—the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

There is also a hymn where we call Mary the Queen of Heaven. Sister said Jesus is our King, and Mary is like our gentle Queen who helps us and brings our prayers to Him.

I liked best when she said Mary is like the morning star that points to the sun. She helps us find Jesus.

At the end, we give everything to her and ask her to help us get to heaven someday.

It made me feel very safe, like starting the day with someone who loves me.

Evening Prayer

Dear Mother Mary, please stay close to me tonight and help me love Jesus more tomorrow. Amen.

Love, Kathy.

Recording Our Lady’s Prayer - None

Little Office of the Immaculate Conception

Dear Diary,

Today Sister Mary Claire and I spent a good part of the day recording the Second Part of The Little Office of the Immaculate Conception. It felt important and peaceful all at once, and Sister wanted me to say the words carefully and understand them too, not just read them out. I liked that, because prayers feel warmer when you know what they are really saying.

One prayer especially stayed with me tonight. It called Our Lady the Queen of Heaven, the Mother of Jesus, and even the Mistress of the world. Sister explained that this does not mean Mary is above God, of course, but that God has given her a beautiful place of honor because she is His own dear Mother. And when the prayer says she forsakes no one and despises no one, it means Mary never turns away from us just because we are little or sinful or ashamed. She is always kind enough to look on us with pity and tenderness.

Sister said the prayer is really asking Our Lady to do what loving mothers do best—take our poor needs to Jesus. We ask her to beg forgiveness for our sins and to help us stay close to Him. And the part about celebrating her Immaculate Conception means being glad that from the very beginning God made Mary so pure and lovely for His great plan. Sister said when we honor that gift with true devotion, we are also asking for the grace to reach Heaven ourselves one day, not by our own goodness, but by the grace of Jesus.

I thought that was so beautiful. It made me feel that Mary is not far away in Heaven doing grand things only for saints. She is near us, and gentle, and ready to help even with the prayers of an ordinary girl at a little table with a recording machine. I was glad to think that maybe if I pray slowly and lovingly, Our Lady might hear my voice too and smile a little.

Mini stayed nearby through it all, sometimes watching us as if she understood this was not just talking but praying. By evening I felt tired, but in a good way, like we had done something worth doing.

Evening Prayer

Dear Blessed Mother, please keep me close to Jesus tonight.

Pray for my sins to be forgiven, and help me love purity, gentleness, and goodness more and more.

Thank you for never turning away from poor little souls who need you.

Lay your mantle over Sister Mary Claire, Mini, and me, and lead us safely toward Heaven.

Amen.

Love,

Kathy

Recording Matins

Little Office of the Immaculate Conception

 

Dear Diary,

This Sunday afternoon I finished recording Matins from the Little Office of the Immaculate Conception, and I felt very thankful when it was done. It took a long time because I am so particular about it. Sister Mary Claire helped me all along with the cues and showed me where to pause, where to soften my voice, and where to say the words more clearly. I kept wanting to rehearse certain parts over again until they sounded just right.

It was slow work, but good work. Sometimes I would think I had it, and then Sister would gently have me do that little part once more. I did not mind, because such beautiful prayers ought to be said carefully. When I finally finished Matins, it felt like I had set down a small bouquet for Our Lady.

Mini stayed close by through all of it, watching in her serious little way. Once she gave a deep sigh and curled up as if she thought prayer recording was very tiresome business. But then when I started again, she lifted her head and listened so hard that I told her she was my littlest helper.

Now Matins is finished, and Prime shall be my next project. I already know it will take some time too, because Sister says good prayer should never be rushed, and I believe that is true. So I mean to go on the same way, one careful part at a time, until Prime is done too.

Dear Blessed Mother, please help me pray slowly and faithfully, and let every word I say be for Jesus. Amen.

Love, Kathy

Jesus and His Blessed Mother

Dear Diary,

Today I thought about how Our Lord must have shown Himself first to His Blessed Mother after He rose from the dead. The Bible does not say it plain, but it feels so right. She loved Him more than anyone and stayed faithful even at the Cross, when everything was so sad and dark.

This morning when I went to the chicken house, I reached under dear Omelette and found a beautiful brown egg still warm beneath her feathers. I held it so carefully in my hand and thought how lovely it is when something quiet and hidden turns out to be full of life and sweetness. That made me think of Our Lady waiting in sorrow, still believing, even before the joy of seeing Jesus came.

Then I imagined the moment when Jesus came to her, not suffering anymore, but full of glory and life. All her tears must have turned into happiness. The same dear Son she had loved and held was now shining in heavenly beauty.

It makes me love Our Lady very much to think of her joy. She trusted Jesus through all the darkness, and then she saw His victory. I want to stay close to Him like that too, in happy times and sad ones both.

Evening Prayer:

Dear Blessed Mother, please teach me to trust Jesus always and stay close to Him, just as you did. Amen.

Love,

Kathy

Jesus Kept His Wounds

Dear Diary,

Today’s meditation made me think about how Jesus rose from the dead all full of glory, and still kept the holy wounds in His hands and feet. I kept picturing them not looking sad anymore, but shining like lovely signs of His love. It makes me feel that He never wants us to forget what He suffered for us, and how very much He loves us.

Sister Mary Claire said His wounds are like victory marks now. That thought stayed with me all day. If Jesus kept His wounds in Heaven, then they must be very precious to Him. They tell the whole story of His mercy.

Later on I made a quick trip to the cave with Mini to check on my beaver friend Shaggycoat and to make sure the cave was secure. All was well, thank goodness. The cave felt quiet and safe, and it seemed like a good place to think about brave things. I wondered if I am as brave as I ought to be in little hard things, like being patient, obeying quickly, or offering up small troubles without complaining.

The saints loved to think about the wounds of Jesus because they wanted to stay close to Him no matter what. I do too. I want to love Him not only when things are easy, but also when something costs me a little.

Evening Prayer:

Dear Jesus, let Your holy wounds remind me how much You love me. Help me be brave in little hard things, and teach me to love You back with all my heart. Amen.

Love,

Kathy

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