# Day 19: Heart‑Pondering Prayer with Mother Teresa
*2017-03-28*

> Bill Young guides listeners through Day 19 of the 33‑day Marian consecration retreat, focusing on heart‑pondering prayer and the example of Mother Teresa.

## Opening and Context

Good afternoon, I’m Bill Young. Today is May 3rd, the feast of St. Philip and St. James, two of the original apostles. We ask for their intercession as we continue Day 19 of our “Do‑Yourself Retreat,” a 33‑day preparation for a Marian consecration.

## Preparing for Consecration

After we give Mary our “yes,” a glorious new day dawns in our spiritual lives. She arranges the events of our lives with tender love, and the Holy Spirit pours out countless mercies. Often we notice only the annoyances and burdens of daily life, missing the many gifts God gives us. If we receive new graces through consecration but retain a negative attitude, we would be missing the point. Therefore we must prepare our hearts to receive and recognize those gifts.

## Mother Teresa’s Example

Mother Teresa lived in harsh conditions—heat, cramped rooms, fatigue, hard food, cold water, and even spiritual dryness—yet she radiated joy. How did she develop such sensitivity and gratitude? Two things:
1. She followed Mary’s example of heart‑pondering, constantly reflecting on the good God does (cf. Luke 1:45). Like Mary, she lived in poverty and darkness but always found God in the details, responding with praise.
2. She embraced the Ignatian practice of daily examen. This is not a list of sins but a review of the day’s blessings, asking how we responded to God’s love. By recognizing and thanking God for these gifts, we align our hearts with Mary’s attitude.

## The Heart‑Pondering Prayer

Let us pray together:
“Come, Holy Spirit, living in Mary, help me to recognize and ponder in my heart all the good that you do for me.”
Amen.

*By habitually pondering God’s blessings with Mary, we open ourselves to a deeper flow of grace.*