Day 7: Mary Hidden in Advent-Jacob's Ladder

Jacob's Dream, William Blake

Day 7: Jacob's Ladder

     Read The Jesse Tree pp. 26-29.  Hang ornament (ladder).
     Jacob tricks his brother and while fleeing from home dreams of a ladder to Heaven.

     Scripture reference:  Genesis 28:10-22 (Jacob's dream)

     Comments:  In his dream, Jacob sees a ladder reaching to Heaven with angels going up and down from Heaven to Earth.  Jesus applied this vision to Himself when He told Nathaniel, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man." (Jn. 1:51).  Jesus is our Ladder to Heaven.  In order that we may climb this Ladder without falling, He gives us Mary to help us with her prayers.  The greatest of these prayers is the Rosary.

Related Title:  Mary, Queen of the Holy Rosary

     Today people want things that strike and move and that leave deep impressions on the soul. Nor has there ever been anything in the whole history of the world more moving than the wonderful story of the life, death and glory of Our Savior, which is contained in the Holy Rosary. In the fifteen tableaux the chief scenes or mysteries of His life unfold before our eyes. How could there ever be any prayers more wonderful and sublime than the Lord’s Prayer and the Salutation of the angel? All our desires and all our needs are found expressed in these two prayers...You will find that it will be a real Jacob’s ladder with fifteen rungs and by each one of these you will go from virtue to virtue and from light to light.  The Secret of the Rosary, St. Louis-Marie de Montfort

To the Queen of the Most Holy Rosary

     Queen of the most holy Rosary, in these times of such brazen impiety, manifest thy power with the signs of thine ancient victories, and from thy throne, whence thou dost dispense pardon and graces, mercifully regard the Church of thy Son, His Vicar on earth, and every order of clergy and laity, who are sore oppressed in the mighty conflict. Do thou, who art the powerful vanquisher of all heresies, hasten the hour of mercy, even though the hour of God's justice is every day provoked by the countless sins of men. For me who am the least of men, kneeling before thee in supplication, do thou obtain the grace I need to live righteously upon earth and to reign among the just in heaven, the while in company with all faithful Christians throughout the world, I salute thee and acclaim thee as Queen of the most holy Rosary.  Amen.

If you are new to praying the Rosary, this website tells you all about the promises, the prayers, and the mysteries of the Rosary.  In this post on EWTN, Fr. Saunders explains the history of the Rosary.