Topic for August: Women
Saint to contemplate: Blessed Mother Mary, the master piece of the holy Trinity
The role model of girls and women that are exposed today are related to fashion, dating, marital and any interpersonal relationships as well as professional careers. Unfortunately, they do not deal with their future role as mothers. These models appeal to appearance, to fast fading popularity in the world of entertainment. Often they are of questionable integrity, thereby persistently ignoring the Christian and moral implications of womanhood.
We have a woman, the master piece of God who is called Blessed Virgin Mary. The first woman (Eve) failed God and thus sins and miseries came into this world. Since then, Mary was God’s dream of whose Son shall crush the head of the snake, the devil (Gen 3:15). Blessed Bishop Fulton Sheen stated, “I believe really and truly that she is the woman whom every man loves an ideal. I think subconsciously, she is the kind of the woman that every woman wants to be; the dream of the whole human race.”
“She is blessed among all women” (Lk 1:42). Mary gives us the clearest and most inspiring picture of what an ideal girl, a woman or a mother should look like. Every Christian woman would be wise to take her example: her purity, humility, grace, maternal love, faithfulness, tenderness, strength, steadfastness, and sacrifice contribute to her glory.
Every woman wants a role model- someone to look up to. Is Mary that person?
May we find time to say Rosary every day and meditate on the virtues and tittles of mother Mary that are in the Litany.
Prayer
(Memorare)
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection,
implored your help or sought your intercession,
was left unaided.
Inspired with this confidence,
I fly to you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother;
to you do I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
despise not my petitions,
but in your mercy hear and answer me.
Amen
(Below is the SiSwati version of the same post)
Ingci: Bafati
Santa Locwebile: Intfombi Lebusisiwe Mariya, muhlekati weButsatfu Lobucwebile
Lababukwa njengabosogcamile bemantfombatana nebafati esikhatsini salamuhla ngulabahambelana netekukhangisa, kuganana, kutsatsana nanoma ngubuphi budlelwane kanye ne bebantfu nemisebenti yekucecesheka. Lokubuhlungu, abayiteki yendzima yabo njengabomake bakusasa. Banaka lalabagcamisa kubukeka nekwatiwa lokuphela ngekushesha ehlangotsini tekujabulisa. Imvamisa baba ngulabangatfolakali kahle bucotfo babo, ngaleyondlela baphike kutsalalisa kulokuphatselene nebuKhritu nekutiphatsa kwebufati.
Sinaye umfati longumuhlekati waNkulunkulu lokutsiwa yiNtfombi leBusisiwe Mariya. Lowekucala umfati (Eva) wamjabhisa Nkulunkulu kwase kungena tono netinsizi emhlabeni. Kusukela laphoMariya waba liphupho laNkulunkulu kutsi iNdvodzana yakhe iyawufihlita inhloko yenyoka, lomubi (Gen 3:15). Umbhishobhi Fulton Sheen Lobusisiwe watsi: “Ngiyakholwa ngekwelucobo neliciniso kutsi ungumfati lotsandvwa nguyonkhendvodza, lofunekako. Ngicabanga kutsi ngekhatsi engcondvweni, uluhlobo lwemfati wonkhe mfati lafisa kuba nguye; liphupho lesintfu sonkhe.”
“Ubusisiwe kubo bonkhe bafati” (Lk 1:42). Mariya usinika lesikhanya kakhulu nalesikhutsatako sitfombe sekutsi intfombatana, umfati noma make longuye ufanele abe njani. Wonkhe umfati longumKhristu utabe ahlakaniphile kulandzela sibonelo sakhe: bumsulwa bakhe, kutitfoba, bubele, lutsandvo lwamake, kwetsembeka, bumnene, emandla, kutinta, nekutinikela kwengeta ludvumo lwakhe.
Wonkhe umfati ufuna loyo muntfu langabonela kuye. Ngabe Mariya nguloyo muntfu?
Asimane sitfole sikhatsi sekusho iRosali onkhemalanga sizindle ngebuhle neticu tamake Mariya letikuLithani.
Umthandazo
(KHUMBULA MARIYA)
Khumbula Mariya, iNtfombi lenesisa kakhulu.
Akutange sekuvakale naphakadze,
Kutsi kukhona lowake wayekelelwa nguwe,
Abalekela kuwe tsemba letfu,
Akuncenga kwekutsi umsite umthantazele.
Ngitsi name ngisuswa litsemba lelinjalo,
Ngiyasheshisa ngita kuwe, Ntfombi etintfombini, Make.
Sengime embikwakho, ngiyakhala mine soni.
Awu! Nina weLivi, ungadzebeseli emavi ami,
kodvwa uweve ngemusa, uwavume kahle.
Amen.