Well, this is the month of the Rosary and Catholic World Report is participating in a “Rosary Crawl” of Ignatius Press’ movie Mary of Nazareth. I am not sure what it means. The link they have to explain it involved some sort of download that I want to check out when I get a chance.  For now, I will post their first installment which is on the Sermon on the Mount and so relates to the third mystery of the luminous mysteries and they have a clip from the movie of this reenactment. I hope there will be others.

Excerpt from Catholic World Report

Jesus’ proclamation of the kingdom of God is the focus of the Third Mystery of Light: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mk 1:15). This calls to mind the words of Saint Paul, writing to the Christians in Galatia: “But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law…” (Gal 4:4). That woman, Mary, the mother of Jesus, was not a mere instrument or a pious bystander, but was an active participant in the advent of the Kingdom. But her active participation was not a matter of sensational public display, but of perfect, humble faith, made known through her quiet yet astonishing Fiat–a prayer “revealed to us at the dawning of the fullness of time” (CCC, par 2617).

via Mary of Nazareth Blog Tour/Rosary Crawl: “Beatitudes–Sermon the Mount” | Catholic World Report – Global Church news and views.

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Here is the next installment of the Rosary Crawl for the film Mary of Nazareth. This time at Lisa Henley’s blog at Patheos and it is for the fourth sorrowful mystery the Way of the Cross. I am not sure what the rest of the schedule will be. Their itinerary is here but the content of the future stops are not yet posted. I seem to be posting these half way through the crawl so I will post the previous ones when their itinerary is finished on Thursday, the twenty third. Apparently it is a promo of the DVD release of the film.

From

I am pleased to be a part of the “MARY of NAZARETH” Blog Tour/Rosary Crawl, along with many other inspiring bloggers. To learn more, visit the Rosary Crawl itinerary here.

Alissa Jung as Mary in “Mary of Nazareth”

I remember the night I sat in a movie theater and participated as a sold out audience watched a premier of the film Mary of Nazareth. Seated next to me in the theater that night was the talented actress Alissa Jung, who portrays the Blessed Virgin Mary in the film. I had interviewed Alissa earlier in the day, asking her all about the experience of portraying Mary. I also vividly recall glancing to my side as we sat watching the movie together, interested in seeing how Alissa reacted there in the theater during the most excruciatingly challenging parts of the film. Alissa is obviously not Mary, but I can only imagine what it must be like for any woman — any mother — to so fully interact with the emotions of the Blessed Mother.

One of the times I most felt the emotion of a mother’s pure love and grief that night (and in the times I’ve watched the film since then) was during the scenes depicting the Way of the Cross. A few years ago, on my trip to Israel, I had prayed along the Via Dolorosa. To view Mary of Nazareth is to step back onto the Way and to again unite myself to Christ’s carrying of the cross, as we see depicted in this scene from the film:

More at: The Way of the Cross: #RosaryCrawl Unites Us in Prayer.

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Today’s installment for the Mary of Nazareth Rosary Crawl is hosted by Catholic Fire with the second Luminous Mystery, the miracle at the wedding at Cana in Galilee. It is a great scene. And a great reminder to always invite Jesus to your wedding for good spiritual reinforcements!

Catholic Fire is a part of the MARY of NAZARETH Blog Tour/Rosary Crawl, of which we are delighted to be a part of, along with many other inspiring bloggers. To learn more, visit the Rosary Crawl Itinerary HERE.

Second Mystery of Light: The wedding feast of Cana.”On the third day there was a marriage at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with his disciples. When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you”‘ Jn 2:1-5.”On the threshold of his public life Jesus performs his first sign ­at his mother’s request – during a wedding feast: The Church attaches great importance to Jesus’ presence at the wedding at Cana. She sees in it the confirmation of the goodness of marriage and the proclamation that thenceforth marriage will be an efficacious sign of Christ’s presence” CCC, 1613.Our Father, 10 Hail Marys contemplating the mystery, Glory be to the Father

via Catholic Fire: Mary of Nazareth Blog Tour/Rosary Crawl:The Miracle at Cana.

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Today’s installment of the Mary of Nazareth Rosary Crawl

View from the Domestic Church is delighted to be a part of the MARY of NAZARETH Blog Tour/Rosary Crawl, along with many other inspiring bloggers. To learn more, CLICK HERE.

In this visit along the blog crawl we are focusing on the  Second Sorrowful Mystery: The scourging at the pillar.

Watch this newly released clip on the Scourging at the Pillar

“Then Pilate took Jesus and scourged him. And the soldiers plaited a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and arrayed him in a purple robe; they came up to him, saying, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ and struck him with their hands” (Jn 19:1-3).

“Jesus’ sufferings took their historical, concrete form from the fact that he was ‘rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes’ (Mk 8:31 ), who ‘handed him to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified’ (Mt 20:19)” (CCC, 572).

Our Father, 10 Hail Marys (contemplating the mystery), Glory be to the Father.

via View from the Domestic Church: Mary of Nazareth Blog Crawl: The Scourging at the Pillar.

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Today is the last day of the Rosary Crawl for the Film Mary of Nazareth. Today it is the Crucifixion of Jesus at Faith & Family Media Blog.

We were asked to be a part of the blog tour/rosary crawl, along with many other inspiring bloggers, for the release of Mary of Nazareth on DVD and we were happy to say “yes”!  See the recap of the #RosaryCrawl HERE.

As part of the tour I am excited to share a clip from the film.  This scene is of the Crucifixion and Death of our Lord.“And when they came to the place which is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. And Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do’ …It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit!’ And having said this he breathed his last” Lk 23:33-46.

via Mary of Nazareth: A Beautiful Reflection of the Blessed Mother | Faith & Family Media Blog.

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Ave Maria!

So here is the first day of the Rosary Crawl that I am publishing after the fact since the event is over but as advertised I would start at the beginning when it is done since I started in the middle. So here it is from discerninghearts.com on the Visitation of Mary to St. Elizabeth:

From Mary of Nazareth – “The Visitation” – Special – Discerning Hearts Discerning Hearts.

Discerning Hearts is a part of the  MARY of NAZARETH Blog Tour/Rosary Crawl, of which we are delighted to be a part of, along with many other inspiring bloggers. To learn more, CLICK HERE.

Here is a clip from the movie which features the “mystery” surrounding the events of the “VISITATION” –

How extraordinary this moment is, especially as seen in this film!  So often in movie depictions of the “Visitation”, we see only the two women coming together in a private encounter.  But in “Mary of Nazareth”, not only does Mary and Elizabeth share a heavenly revelation with each other, but they joyfully share this “good news” with everyone around them.    Elizabeth freely “expresses” what the Holy Spirit has revealed, Mary joyfully “proclaims” the glory of the Lord to the seeking hearts caught witnessing the moment!  This is “Evangelization” at its finest!  This “communication” really becomes a time of “communion” for those who have ears to hear, and eyes to see.   Hope, Faith, and Love, all are captured so beautifully in this scene.   Mary’s “Magnificat” becomes a glorious expression of faith which touches the hearts that surround her.  Oh, and that lovely touch  which gives us Elizabeth and her unborn child as the first in that “communion” line to embrace Christ in the womb of the Mother is truly priceless.

via Mary of Nazareth – “The Visitation” – Special – Discerning Hearts Discerning Hearts.

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Continuing with the Rosary Crawl this one is the Presentation fromStuart Dunn at Stuart’s Study

From Stuart’s Study: Mary of Nazareth Blog Tour/Rosary Crawl Day 3.

Today, I am pleased to be part of another blog tour, sponsored by Carmel Communications, which you can learn more about here. This one is for a wonderful movie being released (today in fact) by Ignatius Press, entitled Mary of Nazareth. In order to promote this beautiful film and companion book, Mary of Nazareth: The Life of Our Lady in Pictures, we on the blog tour are going to share with you a video clip that corresponds to a mystery of the Rosary, and either an interview, a review, or our own personal thoughts on Mary and the specific mystery. Today, I will be sharing with you my thoughts on The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, which is the Fourth Joyful Mystery. Before I share my reflections, let us first get our minds right by praying this decade of the Rosary. We will then view the clip, and I will provide a brief reflection on it.

More at Stuart’s Study: Mary of Nazareth Blog Tour/Rosary Crawl Day 3.
Fourth Joyful Mystery: The Presentation in the Temple

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Continuing with the Rosary Crawl this one is the Annunciation from Sarah Reinhard at Snoring Scholar

This post is part of the Mary of Nazareth Blog Tour and Rosary Crawl.

First Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation

“In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary” (Lk 1:26-27).

“The Annunciation to Mary inaugurates the ‘fullness of time’ (Gal 4:4), the time of the fulfillment of God’s promises and preparations” (CCC, 484).

via The Annunciation – Mary of Nazareth #RosaryCrawl – Snoring Scholar.

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Continuing with the Rosary Crawl this one is the Finding in the Temple from Fr. Shenan J. Boquet at Harvesting The Fruits Of Contemplation

From Harvesting The Fruits Of Contemplation: Mary of Nazareth Blog Tour/Rosary Crawl – Finding In The Temple.:

Harvesting The Fruits of Contemplation, along with many other inspiring bloggers, is delighted to be a part of the MARY of NAZARETH Blog Tour/Rosary Crawl. To learn more CLICK HERE.

When I first watched Mary of Nazareth, I was reminded of the words Father George P. Schommer, O.P. shared during a retreat some years ago:

“Praying the rosary with Mary is a memorial – making present in our own time an event in salvation history. By meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary, Mary brings that event to us, so we can experience its power and grace.  Mary draws us to her Son.  Use your imagination. Meditate on the mysteries.  It will help you grow in your relationship with Jesus.  We are with Him and with Mary in these events.”

Viewing Mary of Nazareth – the equivalent of praying the rosary with one’s eyes – breathed new life into the good Friar’s words and provided much to ponder.

More at Harvesting The Fruits Of Contemplation: Mary of Nazareth Blog Tour/Rosary Crawl – Finding In The Temple.:

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Ok, this finishes the Rosary Crawl which we started at the midpoint (or is that mid-crawl?)  when I noticed it on Catholic World Report.  This one is the Nativity at Bethlehem from Edward Sri at To Keep and to Ponder

From Edward Sri | Mary, Bethlehem and the Cross.:

I am happy to be part of a blog tour for a new movie being released by Ignatius Press, entitled Mary of Nazareth. Each person on the tour is offering a reflection on one of the mysteries of the Rosary, and I’ve been tasked with Mary at the Nativity. For a sample clip of this scene from the movie, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch v=O9VyT9sY_Dc&authuser=0. If you want your family and friends to know Mary better, this movie is worth seeing!

 

I am especially excited to be a part of this because I am in Israel right now leading a “Walking with Mary” Holy Land pilgrimage, in which we use the 20 mysteries of the Rosary as our itinerary and pray right in the places where these mysteries unfolded. The following is based on my reflections from our group’s visit to Bethlehem this week.

 

NOT YOUR GRANDMA’S NATIVITY SET:  MARY, BETHLEHEM AND THE CROSS

The Mary of the Bible is not fully portrayed by the Mary of your grandmother’s nativity set.

Not that the classical depiction of Our Lady kneeling before the manger with her hands folded and her eyes gazing upon the infant child is wrong. It beautifully captures the Blessed Mother’s ardent devotion to her newborn Son.

But if we read the Bible carefully, we can see there was a lot more going on in Mary’s life in those days, and some of it would be been quite troubling for her.

More at Edward Sri | Mary, Bethlehem and the Cross.

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