Today is September 6, Saturday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time.
We read at today’s Mass, “‘Have you not read what David did when he and those who were with him were hungry? How he went into the house of God, took the bread of offering, which only the priests could lawfully eat, ate of it, and shared it with his companions?’ Then he said to them, ‘The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath'” (Lk 6:3-5).
Carlo had a strong devotion to Mary, especially under the title of Our Lady of Pompeii. He loved to pray the Rosary, calling it his “shortest ladder to heaven.” For him, Mary was a real mother who never abandoned her children.
Nicola Gori, Carlo’s postulator, writes, “He once remarked to his parents, ‘Our Lady is the only lady in my life!’ and he never missed ‘the most important appointment of the day,’ which was his recitation of the Rosary.”
Pointing to Christ
Through Mary, Carlo learned purity, courage and trust. She taught him how to stay close to Jesus. His love for her was not separate from his love for Christ; it deepened it. Mary always pointed him to her Son.
When he faced trials, Carlo turned to Mary’s intercession. He believed she would carry his prayers to Jesus. He also encouraged others to pray the Rosary, confident that it was a powerful weapon against sin and discouragement.
Mary is our mother, too. Like Carlo, we can entrust ourselves to her care. She knows the joys and sorrows of her children, and she always leads us back to Jesus.
Let us pray,
God of might, giver of every good gift, put into our hearts the love of your name, so that, by deepening our sense of reverence, and, by your watchful care, keep safe what you have nurtured. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
*We are experiencing issues with the recorded video files for MDV. Thank you for your patience as we work to resolve them and post the remaining reflections.
