Day 7 or 8 of the 33 Day Consecration to Mary - Praising God’s Generosity to Others

Today is day seven or eight of the 33 Day Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, depending on whether you were ending on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. I would like to have these posted in the morning for your convenience, but I am running late today. I spent the day helping a friend who had outpatient surgery. The Lord’s hand was in all kinds of places with this procedure. He was clearly and richly pouring His favor into my friendAnd I just felt so much gratefulness for God blessing her. These weren’t my blessings. These were her blessings. And I had to praise the Lord for His mercy, His rich love, His faithfulness to another. I felt so much cause to praise, even as a part of me wanted to be jealous that the blessing was not for me. And it was interesting, because I had just been thinking the day before of Saint Andrew, the brother of Saint Peter. Saint Andrew, seemingly by Scripture, was not the closest friend of Jesus while his brother was. I have asked him on previous occasions whether he was ever jealous that Peter seemed favored and so much more abundantly blessed. I think I had my answer today, as I praised the Lord for His goodness, because it’s more about Him than those of us who receive. When another is blessed, we don’t lose our blessings; we all gain in the glory of God’s generosity. I pray for the healing of the places where we have felt shortchanged in blessing and for the healing of our jealousy. I pray for the healing of those who have been jealous of us. I pray rivalry will be brought to peace and division brought to unity. May Mary, who rejoices at our blessing, teach us to rejoice at the blessings of others for the sake of the One who blesses. Today, we consecrate ourselves, our families, our nation and our Church. A Solemn Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary Most Holy Virgin Mary, tender Mother of men, to fulfill the desires of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the request of the Vicar of Your Son on earth, we consecrate ourselves and our families to your Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart, O Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, and we recommend to You, all the people of our country and all the world. Please accept our consecration, dearest Mother, and use us as You wish to accomplish Your designs in the world. O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, and Queen of the World, rule over us, together with the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ, Our King. Save us from the spreading flood of modern paganism; kindle in our hearts and homes the love of purity, the practice of a virtuous life, an ardent zeal for souls, and a desire to pray the Rosary more faithfully. We come with confidence to You, O Throne of Grace and Mother of Fair Love. Inflame us with the same Divine Fire which has inflamed Your own Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart. Make our hearts and homes Your shrine, and through us, make the Heart of Jesus, together with your rule, triumph in every heart and home. Amen. --Venerable Pope Pius XI