I've been undergoing these counseling sessions for long. I can't even remember for how many years now. And I think honestly that these few minutes spent every Wednesday opening up myself to the specialist helped me to open my private Pandora box and to survive somehow and stay sane in the world of stress, frustration and constant fight to survive and deliver...
It is such a blessing that my counseling specialist is available to me on those Wednesdays wherever I happen to be in this world. And, surprise, the specialist is not a man. The specialist is a woman. And she knows me better than anyone else. How she bears with me and does not lose heart is beyond me!
I'm not a jealous guy who wants to keep my specialist away from you. She can help anyone who needs her help and advise. She is open to anyone in need. I can give you her name and address so you yourself can seek her help in your needs, whatever they may be.
Her name is Our Lady of Perpetual Help and She is always with us whenever you call Her name. The picture below is the picture of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. The meaning of this picture, its theological explanation can be found here. The original picture is located in the church of St. Alhonsus Liguori in Rome. I love this picture and the message it conveys. Apart from the picture of Our Lady of Graces in Janów Lubelski where I received my priestly vocation, and the picture of Our Lady in the upper chapel in the metropolitan seminary in Kraków, where I received my missionary vocation, this picture completes my Top Three Favorite portraits of Our Lady among all others in the world.
And the counseling session is called Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help. This novena has been with me for many many years. And whenever I myself or together with the faithful arrive to the moment of silent opening to Our Lady and presentation of our intentions, petitions, needs and thanksgivings, it is the time for real counseling and sharing.
The Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help starts with the opening prayer, called Roman Prayer. This is recited by everyone. And when we arrive to the moment when we pause and present to Our Lady our own needs and worries, we do it in the privacy of our hearts, in silence. Once finished, after a minute of silence, or more, we continue with the remainder of the prayer...
Then the petitions found in the petition box, when people place the pieces of papers with their own intentions, are read aloud and we finish by praying for the intentions presented to Our Lady in silence of our hearts together with those placed in the box in the church throughout the whole week and read by me during the novena on Wednesdays...
That silence during the Roman Prayer is one of the most important moments of the whole week, every week. This is the intimate time to be together with my Mum in heaven who knows we better than anyone else in this world, but she wants me to tell Her what's troubling me, what's wrong with me, what are my worries and joys, what it is that makes me sad, scared, lose heart or being in need of something important to me and the community or people I love and serve... She wants me to come to Her and tell Her...
And I feel that once I am done with telling Her everything that is bothering me or making me happy or anxious or in need, She accepts me as I am and by placing all the contents of my heart at Her feet, She knows what to do and how to address all I told Her. Sometimes I get answers right away, by receiving a special illumination which shows me clearly the path to take. Sometimes the answer comes through events or other people. What I need is to keep my eyes and ears open to see the answer coming.
What is most important - Our Lady never fails to answer our prayers, especially in this powerful novena, and especially in that intense moment of opening up to Her in that silent prayer during the Roman Prayer of the novena...
Try this counseling with strong faith and you will see the results for yourself.
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