Fulton Sheen talking about his 20+ visits to Lourdes in France
The Blessed Mother:
Dream - She was God's dream
"Men love an ideal, before they love in fact." (FS)
"[Mary] She is the woman for whom every man loves an ideal. Every woman that a woman wants to be." (FS)
The first Immaculate Conception was in the mind of God.
God pre-existed his own first Mother. So, he made her perfect.
Mary promised to give God human nature.
Word became flesh.
'Mary is the only one who could look down upon Heaven - for she held Heaven in her arms [Jesus - half man, half God]." (FS)
"Our Blessed Mother always notices our needs before we do." - in regard to Mary being the first to know that there wasn't enough wine at the wedding during the marriage at Cana
In the original of Gospel (Greek) - "What to me to thee. My hour has not yet come."
"Whenever, you find the word hour it always means the passion, death, and suffering of Our Lord."
The relationship between Jesus and his mother changes immediately upon the hour happening. Whatever happens to Jesus, makes Mary the Mother of all peoples.
So, that is why Jesus addressed his mother during that moment as "woman".
Jesus at the Cross
What's happening at the Cross? It's a wedding.
Jesus says this toIsrael: "I am your husband, you are my spouse."
The Blessed Mother as a bride.... in that moment.
Who is on the Cross? The new Adam.
Who is below the Cross? The new Eve.
John below the cross as well during that time. That is the new son of Mary.
The Blessed Mother for the first time stands for the beginnging of the Church. Beginning of a family.
Christ is the head of the Church.
120 @ Pentecost.
This is why woman can't be priests. It is man who gives the seed.
"The Word is the seed."
"Church is not an establishment. It's the Body of Christ!"
Mother - Mother of our Lord
"Can you image the Divine child at her feet?"
Spouse - symbol of the Church.
"As we discontinue our devotion to the Blessed Mother, there is a decline the love of the church." (FS)
For woman to be good in the modern era and always "because they represent the Church."
For men:
"And men, be devouted to her." She will keep you grounded.
Keep a statue of our Lady in the home.
Say the rosary every day.
"If you want someone converted. Pray to her." (FS)
Great story of FS being tested through suffering to delivery a fallen of woman from the Church back to the Church and back to Christ.
"Send me suffiicent suffering to purchase your soul."
"Greater love than this no woman has. That she lay down her life for her husband."
FS comment on Heaven in recalling something Peter said (whether a joke or not, it's undertone meaning is sufficient): "Every time I close a door, your mother opens a window."
Final Prayer:
As her children we say:
"Lovely lady dressed in blue, teach me how to pray. God was just a little boy, tell me what to say. Did you lift Him up sometimes gently on your knee? Did you sing to Him the way mother does to me? Did you ever try telling Him stories of the world? And oh did he, cry. Do you think he cares if I tell Him things, just little things that happen? And do angels wings make a noise. Can he hear me if I speak low? Does he understand me now? For you know. Lovely lady dressed in blue, teach me how to pray. God was just a little boy and you know the way."