by Fr. Robert Abbatiello
O Most Blessed Mother, heart of love, heart of mercy, ever listening, caring, consoling, hear our prayer. As your children, we implore your intercession with Jesus, your Son. Receive with understanding and compassion the petitions we place before you today.… We are comforted in knowing your heart is ever open to those who ask for your prayer. We trust to your gentle care and intercession those whom we love and who are sick or lonely or hurting. Help all of us, Holy Mother, to bear our burdens in this life until we may share eternal life and peace with God forever. Amen.
I begin this brief reflection with the above words from the novena prayer to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. May I ask you to join your prayers to those of our Capuchin friars around the world—for whom Mary is the Queen of our Order—and in a special way with the friars of our Province, for whom Mary is also our patroness?
When we see images of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, as we do with the image of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, we’re invited to recall the love with which Mary and Jesus love the Father and love us! Their hearts, exposed on their chests, remind us that they are always available to comfort us, to strengthen us, to reaffirm us, to assure us that we are loved by God and called to love one another in His name and after their example. Do you know someone who, right now, needs the comfort, strength, and assurance that our Blessed Mother and her Son offer? Pray for him or her, asking Mary and Jesus to touch the heart of that person, that he or she may turn to them and receive the joy that comes from knowing how much they are loved by God.
I sure hope you know how much we love you: our families, friends, and benefactors, and how grateful we are for the love you have shown us. Our friars have showed their love for you, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ. They have shown their love through the many different ministries in which we have been called to serve you. Through these ministries, we have shared in your lives and faith journeys and in the lives of countless others who we have been privileged to serve. It’s true: our Capuchin Franciscan family is much larger than just the friars with whom we live!
As we move into the summer season, may you find some extra time to relax in the presence of the Lord and to feel the tremendous love of Jesus and his Mother. Open your hearts once again to them and invite them to make their dwelling within you. I remain grateful for the many ways you open your hearts to all of our friars, and I especially thank you for praying for vocations. God bless you!