joy and light

Joy and Light, the latest book by the leading Polish Mariologist Dr. Vincent Laszewski, is not only a beautiful reflection on the mysteries of the Rosary (joyous and light), but also an innovative guide to Marian prayer for all who have responded to the call of the Mother of the Savior
in Fátima, Tui and Pontevedra – decided to change their lives by carrying out the service on the first Saturdays of the month.

Vincent Laszewski skillfully guides the reader for further reflection, prepares the reader for personal prayer, encourages them in appropriate places to look at their own religious attitudes and in others to thank Mary for her motherly presence.

Skillfully prepared reflections of the rose will help all readers prepare for the first Saturday of the month. Vincent Laszewski's text is complemented by numerous reproductions of works of art that reveal the mystery of the rose.

This text is an excerpt from a book by Dr. Vincent Lashevsky “Joy and Light”, ed. Fronde.

Meditations in dialogue with Mary

The Secrets of the Rosary has been expanded to include instructions on how to use tools to help enter into an inner dialogue with the Holy Mother. Using a guide to help us think, help us understand the proposed method, so that we can approach the following instructions independently – without the help of the teacher.

Fun secrets

I. The Mystery of the Annunciation of Mary

Part 1

Virgin of Nazareth! Teach me your “Fiat”!

Look at the mystery of the Marian Annunciation. (OHM)

Ask Mary about the unknown details of the Annunciation:

Holy Mother, where have you been? How old were you? Was it an internal or external vision? were you afraid Did you know what you agreed to?

Listen to Mary's answer:

It doesn't matter…how insignificant many of the “interesting” details of my apparitions are, or how insignificant I tell myself: Jacinta, Lucia, or…even you. Do you know what is important? You hear a command from heaven, God wants to tell you something that will change your life…God's plan…that's all that matters.

Do not ask such questions, because they will not deepen your faith, which should help you know God better and love God. (PT)

Promise Mary that when you have time, you will definitely come back… that you will try to understand better what is most important in your faith. Perhaps you will begin to examine whether you know what you are confessing in the creed that you repeat each Sunday during the Divine Liturgy… Search for answers to questions such as whether God is almighty or Jesus is “equal. the Father' and the Spirit is the 'Comforter'. Realize what beautiful truths you are admitting… Come back after reflection at your leisure.

Listen to Mary's further response:

Know that distractions in prayer are also ways of false investigation and this tempts many of my worshippers. Instead of serving me, instead of loving me, instead of walking with me, they focus on things that don't matter. They take colorful mugs and think that finding trinkets on the road is the most important thing in traveling the world… (TPR)

Do – in the form of prayer and conversation with Mary – a short examination of conscience: check if your curiosity is limited to a superficial interest in the things of God, to the search for colorful feelings… if you are sometimes limited to what he does. Doesn't it force you to make difficult decisions?, life changes… Check if sometimes your seemingly pious inquiries undermine the authority of the church or lead you away from what is traditional in our faith, such as the sacraments.

Ask Mary:

Mother of God, how did you feel when the angel appeared? Fear, joy, pride, happiness?

Listen to his answer:

Are you asking me about feelings? Yes, they are also important in human life, as well as in our faith and relationship with God. After all, heaven is joy. Being with God is such a great happiness that angels dance… so don't be afraid of feelings. How did I feel during the angelic annunciation, you ask? I felt what you call “the fear of God.” (PT)

Promise Mary, when you have time, you will definitely come back… to check – again in the form of a conversation with the Holy Mother – what this term, which is used less and less often, means. Tell him you notice that it's mostly about love. Say to him, for example: “True love for God makes me realize that he is great and powerful, and what about me?” I am unworthy to stand before him, I am small and weak. He is holy, I am a sinner, he is everything, I am nothing. If you felt that way, how should I, a sinner, feel? Say that because you love him like Mary, you feel fear in your heart that you will not be able to cope with the great love of God that the Lord is giving you.

Listen to Mary's further explanation:

Those who truly love are afraid of disappointing their love. Yes, I was afraid… not of the angel, nor of the tasks he called me in the name of God… I was afraid that I was so small that I failed my beloved Lord. (D)

Realize that God is love, thank Him for it, and praise Him. Arouse the fear that you may disappoint Him – not fulfill your calling that He has given you. Think about what it means to be love itself. There is nothing else in it! And with this love he loves you. He loves those who hate him with the same complete love…and your call to love is also…for them.

Listen to what Mary says:

I knew that I was small, I meant nothing – I was dust before God… Maybe that's why I learned from the beginning that I was “full of grace”, His grace was enough for me. (SB)

Read the words of St. Paul: “(The Lord) said to me: “My grace is sufficient for you. Because power ends in weakness.” Therefore, I will gladly boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Think about whether they are talking about you or not…

Mary says:

The angel assured me that God himself would be my strength. I heard, you understand too! (TPR)

Do you really hear it in your heart? Again, it's time for a short examination of conscience with Mary: How much do you trust God? How much do you trust in His mercy? And also – how much do you thank him for everything he gives you?

Listen to what else Mary says:

I felt confused – I knew that I was not worthy of the calling that the Lord was giving me. This does not mean that I kicked the angel out of the door. That would be false humility. A true person knows how to recognize in himself – a little one – the greatness of God's gift, but without pride and without thinking about himself. Yes, my only chance to live up to God's expectations was His grace, His love. He alone is enough… (PT)

What do you know about the virtue of humility? Ask Mary if your humility is not false – if it is not a perverted form of pride. You may even be proud of your humility in your heart. Or you look down on those who are still searching for themselves. Compare yourself to Mary… The Holy Mother will tell you that false humility is an elaborate trap set by a clever adversary of your holiness. True humility leaves everything to God. He attributes all good things to God, and attributes all bad things to your own worthlessness. So it was in the life of the Mother of God. Promise Mary that when you have time, you will definitely come back… to examine what is most important in your faith. You will learn more about the virtue of humility and the evil of pride. Or: What do you know about grace and its action, how should a person cooperate with God's grace? Try to address the answers to these questions to Mary.

Mary ends with these words:

Remember… if God is to come into your life and ask you for help, you must acquire the virtues of obedience and humility. (OHM)

Your personal prayer time: praise, thanksgiving, supplication… (…)

This text is an excerpt from a book by Dr. Vincent Lashevsky “Joy and Light”, ed. Fronde.

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