Our Lady of Trust has long been the Patroness of the Apostolic Oblates and of the Pro Sanctity Movement. The gift of her protection and guidance was brought to us by the deep devotion of our founder, Bishop William Giaquinta, who came to know Our Lady of Trust while in the Major Seminary of St. John Lateran in Rome.
Please join the Pro Sanctity Movement as we turn to the Immaculate Heart of Mary of Trust and ask her for the trust to become saints! Please also pray for the preparation of the General Assembly of the Institute of the Apostolic Oblates. Pay attention words or phrases from the prayer everyday and let it lead you into an intimate dialogue, one that takes place between a mother and a child. Please post your reflection and graces under comments.
Day One:
Drawn by the need of your help in the many trials which engulf us in this life,
we come to your feet, O Virgin of Trust,
to pour out to the heart of a mother our wishes and failings. (W. Giaquinta)
In writings dated February 20, 1977, Bishop Giaquinta provides material for meditation expressed through his own thoughts on Our Lady of Trust: “It seems to me that the trust of Our Lady has its roots in a poverty open to acceptance. The Madonna knows she is a poor creature, but
exactly for this reason she can count on the omnipotence of God: God, the all-powerful, has chosen her precisely because she was poor, and Our Lady has at the same time the awareness both of her poverty and of her richness that comes from trusting in the omnipotence of God.” (W. Giaquinta, February 20, 1977)A Closer Look at Our Lady of Trust: Did you know that the original portrait of our Lady of Trust was actually called Our Lady of Confidence by the Italian painter Carlo Maratta (1625-1713)? Maratta gave the picture to the Abbess of the Convent of Poor Claire of St. Francis, now known as Venerable Clair Isabella Fornari. She embraced a life of severe penance and was favored with many mystical graces. She had a great devotion to sacred images, especially those of Mary. She treasured the picture Maratta gave her and would meditate on it during her prayer time. Our Lady promised Sister Claire that she would give special graces to all those who would venerate the image of our Lady of Trust throughout the ages. "My Heavenly Mother assured me," said the Abbess, "that she would give a special tenderness and devotion toward her to everyone who contemplated this image (the original and copies). (from History of Our Lady of Trust)
"Let us have trust in Mary who cares for us..." (Giaquinta)
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