The Jubilee of Consolation is an invitation for those who are experiencing a time of pain and affliction, due to illness, bereavement, violence or abuse together with their families and friends.
PRAYER
Blessed Mary, Mother of Consolation,
I ask you to pray with me now
as I come before you as your child.
Kindly be with me, dear Mother;
guide me in your gentle way.
Blessed Queen of Heaven,
you are the chosen one of our most loving Father.
You are the Blessed Mother of God,
our Savior, Jesus.
You are most close to His heart.
Please join your prayers to mine.
Pray with me, Mary, for my intentions,
these needs that are on my mind and in my heart.
Above all, dear Mother,
keep me always as your devoted child.
May I ever strive to hold in my heart
the teaching of your most blessed Son,
my Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.
(From the Missionary Society of St Columban)
TEACHING
From Pope Francis’ Catechesis on Discernment: Consolation (2022):
“What is spiritual consolation? It is an experience of interior joy, that lets [us] see God’s presence in all things. It strengthens faith and hope, and even the ability to do good. The person who experiences consolation never gives up in the face of difficulties because he or she always experiences a peace that is stronger than the trial. It is, therefore, a tremendous gift for spiritual life and for life in general… and to live this interior joy.
“Consolation is an interior movement that touches our depths. It is not flashy but soft, delicate, like a drop of water on a sponge (cf. St. Ignatius of Loyola, Spiritual Exercises, 335). The person feels enveloped in God’s presence in a way that always respects his or her own freedom. It is never something out of tune that tries to force our will; neither is it a passing euphoria. On the contrary, as we have seen, even suffering — caused for example by our own sins — can become a reason for consolation.
“Consolation is that type of peace, but not one in which we remain sitting there enjoying it, no…. It gives you peace and draws you toward the Lord and sets you off on a journey to do things, to do good things. In a moment of consolation, when we are consoled, we want to do so much good, always. Instead, when there is a moment of desolation, we feel like closing in on ourselves and doing nothing. Consolation spurs us forward in service to others, society, other people.”
From the Office of Readings – Memorial for Wednesday in the 30th week of Ordinary Time: Second Reading – From A Spiritual Canticle by St John of the Cross:
“Would that men might come at last to see that it is quite impossible to reach the thicket of the riches and wisdom of God except by first entering the thicket of much suffering, in such a way that the soul finds there its consolation and desire. The soul that longs for divine wisdom chooses first, and in truth, to enter the thicket of the cross.
“The gate that gives entry into these riches of his wisdom is the cross; because it is a narrow gate, while many seek the joys that can be gained through it, it is given to few to desire to pass through it.”
From ‘Sayings of Light and Love’ by St John of the Cross:
“4. It is better to be burdened and in company with the strong than to be unburdened and with the weak. When you are burdened, you are close to God, your strength, who abides with the afflicted. When you are relieved of the burden, you are close to yourself, your own weakness; for virtue and strength of soul grow and are confirmed in the trials of patience.
“64. See that you are not suddenly saddened by the adversities of this world, for you do not know the good they bring, being ordained in the judgments of God for the everlasting joy of the elect.
“87. Crucified inwardly and outwardly with Christ, you will live in this life with fullness and satisfaction of soul and possess your soul in patience.
“92. Let Christ crucified be enough for you, and with him suffer and take your rest, and hence annihilate yourself in all inward and outward things.
“94. Have great love for trials and think of them as but a small way of pleasing your Bridegroom, who did not hesitate to die for you.”
TESTIMONY
“I would not be able to get out of bed if it wasn’t for my faith. Because of my faith, because of the way I’ve been raised, because what I believe to the core of my heart and soul is that Jesus died and rose again… faith gets me up because I know one day we’re going to be reunited.
“In a tragedy… you can go both ways. You can turn your back and say ‘God, how could you do this?’, or you can say ‘God, life is about suffering, I now understand’. Jesus suffered, mother Mary suffered… My relationship with the cross has completely changed, because I understand the pain.
“There’s so many different forms of grief… what I really learnt from day one, when I went to drive to Rookwood Cemetery to pick Veronique’s plot… is that you do grieve alone but you heal together. When I got there, there was a lady called Patricia Thomas from Grief Care, they’re part of Catholic Cemeteries and Crematoria Rookwood, and she said ‘I’m here to accompany you’.
“Grieving together, healing together is very powerful, and I have found that through the accompaniment of Patricia and Grief Care, through my family and through the community, I’ve been able to walk through that grief journey a lot better.”
– Bridget Sakr, Archdiocese of Sydney (From Shalom World; image from The Catholic Weekly)
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
For those who suffer from illness and pain, that they may know the Lord’s healing touch. We pray: God of consolation, hear our prayer.
For our faith community: that with care and compassion, we may truly follow the way of Christ, the Consoler and Prince of Peace.
We pray: God of consolation, hear our prayer.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Pope Francis – General Audience: Catechesis on Discernment. 9. Consolation (23 November 2022).