MIDWEEK PRAYER

On the calendar today in the Catholic Church is the Memorial of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, a Franciscan priest and martyr.  He was born in Poland just before the beginning of the last century and died with his Polish friends in the NAZI German concentration camp at Auschwitz.  Ten persons had been selected to be starved to death in retribution for one who had escaped the camp.  Father Kolbe voluntarily took the place of a man who had a wife and children.   He prayed with all those being starved and brought to them his  special devotion to Mary the mother of Jesus.  He was 47 years old.  

Tomorrow is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  The Assumption is the event in which the mother of Jesus was taken into Heaven.  The Catholic Church considers it one of four dogmas concerning Mary.  Unlike other mortals, Mary was taken up by God, body and soul, when her life on earth was done.

Let us pray to Mary today to intercede on our behalf with her Son, his Father and the Holy Spirit.  

Remember O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known, that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help or sought thy intercession was left unaided.  Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of  virgins my Mother;  to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful.  O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy, hear and answer me.  Amen.