JenAmbrose Design in Progress

  This is the Mary I strive to be more like! On December 8 th the Catholic Church celebrates Mary being conceived without original sin, making her the perfect created being and able to be mother to our Lord. Because I live in Virginia, I am close enough to visit the Basilica of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C. and it is the most amazing church that I have personally visited in the U.S.   O most Holy Virgin, immaculate in body and spirit, look kindly on me as I implore your powerful intercession. O most Holy Mother, receive my prayers as I present them to God. (state your intentions here) O Mary, Mother of Jesus and our Mother, you intercede for us with your Son. O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

  Today is a very special day for my personal faith, the feast day of my confirmation saint, Saint Ambrose of Milan. Because I was confirmed in RCIA almost six years ago, I got to choose my saint as a full-fledged adult. I remember pouring through saint books and one specific part of the story of Saint Ambrose kept calling me. He wasn’t a baptized Catholic when he was elected as Bishop of Milan! He wasn’t even interested in that office at the time. The people saw something in him and he went for it. Similar things have happened in my own life because I often don’t see in myself what others do. With his special intersession, I hope to be able to recognize opportunities when they arise and see in myself what others do, and what God does.

  When I first prayed the consecration to Mary, I chose this feast day, October 7 th , to complete the prayer which seemed fitting because it was a Dominican priest that recommended it to me.   According to Dominican tradition, in 1206, St. Dominic was in Prouille, France, attempting to convert the Albigensians back to the Catholic faith. The young priest had little success until one day he received a vision of the Blessed Virgin, who gave him the Rosary as a tool against heretics.   The priests at my local parish are Dominicans (I live in a college town), and their style of preaching really calls to me.