A Child Again

by Mary Burton

What a great blessing the Divine House Guest Devotion has been for me! May the Lord continue to shower His graces upon the Uttaro's for sharing this beautiful devotion with us!

On one occasion, after receiving the Holy Eucharist, I quieted my soul praying the Divine House Guest Chaplet in silence after Holy Mass. Through my imagination, I had an intimate encounter with the Holy Family. I experience the interior room of my soul as a beautiful little cottage filled with gorgeous colors and flowers. During one contemplation, I invited Mary and St. Joseph into my little cottage. Jesus appeared as a young boy, maybe 10 years old. I was the same age too. I invited them to sit down at my table which was beautifully decorated with flowers. I served them fruit, cheese and bread. Before eating, they began with prayer and blessed the food. It was so joyful being with them, listening and talking. When we finished, Joseph had to return to his work. Mary stayed with Jesus and me. She drew us close and placed one arm around Jesus and the other arm around me. She opened up the Book of Psalms and prayed. I felt enveloped in love. It was indescribable, pure joy!

On another occasion, after receiving Holy Communion, I invited Jesus into the interior room of my soul. My little cottage was prepared for Him, filled with warm colors of blue and yellow, a welcoming place for Him to rest. I asked Him what I could do for Him and He smiled. I heard the sound of the nearby ocean. It was as though I was at my great aunt's cottage where I spent time as a child. Suddenly, I was a child again. I picked up my pail and ran to the ocean, gathering shells, starfish, rocks and snails. It was low tide. I was there for a long time. Then the tide began moving in quickly. All of a sudden, a boat drew near to me. Jesus was standing in the boat, and He stretched out His hand to me. The ocean was getting very rough. Jesus knows that I am afraid of water. I took His hand and got into the boat. Joseph and Mary were in the boat. They smiled at me, and I sat near them. It was so still and peaceful in the boat but the ocean around the boat was very rough. There was a deep interior peace in the boat and in me. After a while, the boat came near the shore and Jesus helped me out of the boat. I picked up my pail and ran back to my beautiful little cottage to ponder what Jesus had done for me. I thanked Jesus for this very special grace. I shared this experience with my confessor, and he said it was a privileged encounter and to continue pondering it, and I did.

During another contemplation, I was a little child walking through a field of flowers filled with so much beauty. I began skipping joyfully like a child. Suddenly, Mary was in the midst of the flowers. She beckoned me to come close. I sat on her lap and nestled under her arms. Mary said she was waiting for me. She handed me a beautiful flower. It was so fragrant. Joy burst forth from my heart being so close to my Mother. Her beauty was beyond words. It was a glorious time of prayer.

Praying the Divine House Guest of Souls, your imagination is engaged during contemplation. The Saints will often appear during your time of prayer. These experiences will help you serve and console Our Lord while He rests in the silence of the interior room of your soul.

God wants us to be like little children. During this beautiful season of Advent, in preparation for the birth of Baby Jesus, make time to pray the Divine House Guest of Souls Devotion like a little child. Through your Advent preparations, you can make your heart a Christmas crib for Mary to tenderly lay the Baby Jesus. Enter into a deep intimacy with the Holy Family who long to meet you in the interior room of your soul, where you can offer them rest, refreshment, silence and love.

Mary Burton and her husband Dave are the founders of the John 10:10 Prayer Ministry, which offers intercessory prayer for Families, Babies and Little Ones. If you would like to submit a prayer request or read about the history of the ministry, please check out the website at: www.unfoldingofjohn1010.org