Reflection #28

What Will Be the Happiness
of the Blessed

"Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." (Matthew 25:23). When the soul enters the Country of the Blessed and the curtain which hinders its sight is taken away, it will see openly and without a veil the infinite beauty of its God, and this will be the joy of the Blessed.
Every object which then it will see in God Himself will overwhelm it with delight: it will see the righteousness of His judgments, the harmony of His degrees regarding every soul, all directed to His own divine glory and the good of each soul.
It will especially perceive, in respect to itself, the boundless love which God has entertained toward it in becoming man and sacrificing His life upon the Cross through love of it. Then will it know what an excess of goodness is contained in the mystery of the Cross, in the sight of God-become-a-servant and dying crucified upon an infamous gibbet, and in the mystery of the Eucharist, in the sight of God concealed beneath the species of bread and become the food of His creatures.
The soul will perceive in particular all the graces and favors bestowed on it, which until then had been hidden. It will see all the mercies He has shown it in waiting for it and pardoning its ingratitude. It will see the many calls and lights and aids which have been granted to it in abundance. It will see that those tribulations, those infirmities, those losses of property or of kindred, which it regarded as punishments, were not really punishments, but loving dispensations on the part of God to draw it to a perfect love for Him.
In a word, all these things will make known to it the infinite goodness of its God and the boundless love which he deserves. Hence, no sooner will it have reached Heaven than its sole desire will be to see Him blessed and happy; and at the same time, comprehending that the happiness of God is supreme, infinite and eternal, it will experience only a joy which is not infinite, because a creature is not capable of anything infinite. It will enjoy, nevertheless, a delight which is immense and complete, and will fill it with joy, and with that same joy which belongs to God Himself; and thus will be fulfilled in it the words: "Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." (Matthew 25:23).
The Blessed are happy, not so much through the delight which they experience in themselves, as through the happiness which God enjoys. For as the Blessed love God immensely more than themselves, so the well-being of God delights them immensely more than their own on account of the love which they bear to Him. And this love for God will make them forget themselves, and all their delight will be to please their Beloved.
And this is that holy and loving inebriation which causes the Blessed to lose all thought of themselves, to occupy themselves solely in praising and loving the Dear Object of all their love, which is God. "They shall be inebriated with the plenty of Thy house." (Psalms 35:9). Happy from their first entrance into Heaven, they continue, as it were, "lost," and so to say, "drowned" in love, in that boundless ocean of the goodness of God.
Wherefore every blessed soul will lose all its vain desires and will have no other desire but to love God and to be loved by Him; and knowing itself secure of always loving God and of being always loved by Him, this will be its blessedness, which will fill it with joy and will make it throughout eternity so satiated with delight that it will desire nothing more.
In a word, this will be the Paradise of the Blessed, to rejoice in the happiness of God. And therefore, he who in this life rejoices in the blessedness which God enjoys, and will enjoy eternally, can say that even in this life he enters into the joy of God and begins to enjoy Paradise.

Meanwhile, O my sweet Savior and the Love of my soul, I still see myself in this vale of tears surrounded by enemies, who seek to separate me from Thee. O my beloved Lord, permit me not to lose Thee; make me always love Thee, both in this life and in the next, and then dispose of me as Thou pleasest.
O Queen of Paradise, it thou prayest for me, assuredly I shall be with thee eternally, to bear thee company and to praise thee in Paradise.
[Excepted from 'Devout Reflections and Meditations' by St. Alphonsus Liguori] (Public domain)

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #358

"And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and his neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.
I say unto you, that even so there shall be joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine righteous persons, which need no repentance." (Luke 15:6-7)

THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS: If the blessed inhabitants of heaven rejoice over the conversion of sinners, they must have a knowledge of it. It follows, therefore, that the angels and Saints in heaven know about us, care for us, and pray for us.

[From 'A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture' by Bishop Knecht, D.D.]
(1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)

Reflection #27

On the Business of
Eternal Salvation

The business of our eternal salvation is for us that affair which is not only the most important, but the only one which ought to trouble us, because if this goes wrong, all is lost. One thought upon eternity, well weighed, is enough to make a saint. The great servant of God, Fr. Vincent Carafa, was accustomed to say that, if all men thought with a lively faith upon the eternity of the next life, the world would become a desert, for no one would attend any more to the affairs of this life.
Oh, that all had ever before their eyes the great maxim taught by Jesus Christ: "What doth it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and suffer the loss of his own soul?" (Matthew 16:26). This maxim has induced so many men to leave the world, so many noble virgins, even of royal blood, to shut themselves up in a cloister, so many anchorites [hermits] to live in deserts, and so many martyrs to give their lives for the Faith, because they considered that, if they lost their souls, all the goods of the world would profit them nothing in eternity.
Therefore the Apostle wrote to his disciples: "We entreat you, brethren, . . . that you do your own business." (I Thessalonians 4:11). And of what business did St. Paul speak? He spoke of that business which, if it fail, implies that we lose the eternal kingdom of Paradise and are cast into an abyss of torments which never end. "It is an affair of eternal punishments and the loss of the heavenly kingdom," says St. John Chrysostom.
St. Philip Neri, therefore, had good reason for calling all those persons mad who in this life take pains to gain riches and honors and give little heed to the salvation of their souls. "All such," the venerable John Avila used to say, "deserve to be shut up in an asylum for lunatics." How so? This great servant of God meant to say: "You believe that their is an eternity of joys for those who love God and an eternity of pain for those who offend Him, and do you offend Him?"
Every loss of goods, of reputation, of relations, of health in this life can be repaired, at least by a good death and by the acquisition of eternal life, as it has happened to the holy martyrs; but for what goods of the world, for what fortune, even the greatest, can be given in exchange the loss of the soul? "What exchange shall a man give for his soul?" (Matthew 16:26).
He who dies in the enmity of God and loses his soul, loses with it forever all hope of repairing his ruin. "When the wicked man is dead, there shall be no hope any more." (Proverbs 11:7). O God, if the doctrine of eternal life were but simply a doubtful opinion of divines, we ought surely to give all our care to gain a happy eternity and avoid a miserable one. But no, it is not a doubtful thing; it is certain, it is of faith that one or the other must be our lot!
But what do we see? Everyone who has faith, and thinks upon this truth says: "So it is: we must attend to the salvation of our soul," but few are they who do attend to it in earnest. All are intent on gaining some lawsuit or obtaining some situation, but lay aside the care of their eternal salvation. "Truly, it is the greatest of errors to neglect the business of eternal salvation," says St. Eucherius. It is an error which exceeds all others, for to lose the soul is an error without remedy. "Oh, that they would be wise and would understand and would provide for their last end!" Miserable are those learned men who know many things and know not how to have any forethought for their souls, that they may obtain a favorable sentence in the Day of Judgment!

O my Redeemer, Thou hast shed Thy Blood to purchase my soul, and I have so often lost it, and lost it again! I give Thee thanks that Thou hast given me time to recover it by recovering Thy grace. O my God, would that I had died before I had ever offended Thee! It comforts me to know that Thou knowest not how to despise a heart which humbles itself, and repents of its sins.
O Mary, Refuge of Sinners, succor a sinner who recommends himself to thee and trusts in thee.
[Excepted from 'Devout Reflections and Meditations' by St. Alphonsus Liguori] (Public domain)

[MaryVitamin] St. Michael

Mary Vitamin for September 29^th

 

Topic: Our Lady, St. Michael  and St. Francis 

 

Quote:

St. Louis de Montfort

"Even St. Michael, as St. Augustine says, although the prince of the heavenly court, is the most zealous in honoring [the Blessed Virgin Mary]  and causing her to be honored, and is always anxiously awaiting the honor of going at her bidding to render service to some one of her servants."

True Devotion to Mary, (Tan Books: 1941), 5.

 

Meditation:

St. Francis of Assisi was a servant of Our Lady and completely dedicated to her honor. St. Francis was also very devoted to St. Michael the Archangel.  Two years before the death of the Seraphic Father, during his customary 40 day fast and time of retreat dedicated to St. Michael, St. Francis received the crowning event of his life: The Stigmata. 

 

St. Bonaventure relates in his biography of St. Francis,

"Early in the morning of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, as [St. Francis] was praying in a secret and solitary place on the mountain, he beheld a seraph, having six wings, all on fire, descending to him from the height of heaven ...

 

When he beheld this, he marvelled greatly, and his heart was filled with mingled joy and sorrow. ...

 

The vision, disappearing, left behind it a marvellous fire in his heart, and a no less wonderful sign impressed on his flesh. For there began immediately to appear in his hands and in his feet the appearance of nails ... When the lover of Christ had been transformed by his true love into his own image, having fulfilled the forty days which he had thus spent in solitude before the feast of the Archangel Michael, this angelical man, Francis, descended from the mount, bearing with him the image of the Crucified, engraven, not on tables of wood nor stone by the hand of the artificer, but written on his members of flesh by the finger of the living God."

The Life of St. Francis of Assisi, (Tan Books: 1998), 123-4.

 

Resolution:

It is very Marian and Franciscan to be devoted to the Archangel St. Michael. Today, I will pray the chaplet of St. Michael in honor of the Feast day of the Archangels and remember that St. Michael greatly desires the honor of Mary, the Mother of God. (If time is short today, I will only read the nine invocations.)

For the chaplet of St. Michael see below or http://www.miraclerosarymission.org/csm.htm

 

Marian Vow:

"[A] particular devotion to St. Michael the Archangel and all the Guardian Angels, our celestial and powerful protectors should be cultivated."

Marian Seraphic Pathways, Constitutions #32

 

I give this resolution to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

 

Thanks be to God for graces received.

 

Related sites: Castle of the Immaculate & AirMaria

 

A Marian Chaplet of St. Michael

 

One Our Father and three Hail Marys with each salutation

O God, come to my assistance; O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be . . .

 

1.     By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Seraphim, may the Lord make us worthy to burn with the fire of perfect charity of the Immaculate.

2.      By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Cherubim, may the Lord vouchsafe to grant us grace to leave the ways of wickedness to run in the paths of Christian perfection of the Immaculate

3.      By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Thrones, may the Lord infuse into our hearts a true and sincere spirit of profound humility of the Immaculate

4.      By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Dominions, may the Lord give us grace to govern our senses and subdue our unruly passions  in imitation of the Immaculate.

5.      By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Powers, may the Lord vouchsafe to protect our souls against the snares and temptations of the devil.

6.      By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Virtues, may the Lord preserve us from evil and suffer us not to fall into temptation.

7.     By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Principalities, may God fill our souls with a true spirit of  blind obedience of the Immaculate

8.      By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Archangels, may the Lord give us perseverance in faith and in all good works, in imitation of the Immaculate in order that we may gain the glory of Paradise.

9.       By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Angels, may the Lord grant us to be protected by them in this mortal life and conducted hereafter to eternal glory with the Immaculate

Four Our Fathers in honor of Sts. Michael, Gabriel, Raphael
& your own Guardian Angel.

Let us pray:
O glorious Prince St. Michael, Chief and commander of the heavenly host, guardian of souls and vanquisher of rebel spirits, servant in the house of the Divine King and our most admirable conductor, thou who dost shine with excellence and super-human virtue, vouchsafe to deliver us from all evil who turn to thee with confidence and enable us gracious protection to serve God more and more faithfully every day. Pray for us O glorious St. Michael, Prince of the Church of Jesus Christ, that we may be worthy of His promises.

Almighty and everlasting God, who by a prodigy of goodness
and a merciful desire for the salvation of all men, hast appointed the most glorious Archangel St. Michael, Prince of Thy Church, make us worthy we beseech Thee, that we may be delivered by his powerful protection from all our enemies, and that none of them my harass us at the hour of our death, and that we may be conducted by him into the august presence of Thy Divine Majesty.
This we ask through the merits of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #357

"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, and having lost one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing." (Luke 15:4-5)

GRACE: We learn from this parable the important doctrine that it is God who gives the first impulse to the conversion or justification of a sinner, moving him to be converted by His preventing grace (conveyed either by inward inspirations, or by the warning words of parents or pastors, or else by misfortune, sickness, etc.), and who then supports him by His grace on the road of penance, until he is once more restored to a state of justification in the holy Sacrament of Penance.

[From 'A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture' by Bishop Knecht, D.D.]
(1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)

Reflection #26

Jesus Is the Good Shepherd

Thus He Himself spoke: "I am the good Shepherd." (John 10:11). The office of a good shepherd is none other than to guide his flock to good pastures and to guard them from wolves; but what shepherd, O my sweet Redeemer, ever had goodness like to Thine, who didst give Thy life to save Thy sheep, which we are, and to deliver us from the punishment we had deserved?
St. Peter says of Jesus: "Who his own self bore our sins in His body upon the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live to justice, by whose strips we were healed." (I Peter 2:24). To heal us of our ills, this good Shepherd took upon Himself all our debts and paid them in His own body, dying with agony upon a cross. It was this excess of love toward us His sheep which made St. Ignatius the martyr burn with desire to give his life for Jesus Christ, saying: "My Love is crucified," as he wrote in his epistle, as though he would say, "What! Has my God been willing to die on a cross for me, and can I live and not desire to die for Him?" And in truth, what great things did the martyrs do in giving their lives for Jesus Christ, who died for the love of them? Oh how the death endured for them by Jesus Christ made sweet to them all their torments--the scourges, the racks, the hooks, the red-hot plates of iron and the most painful deaths!
But the love of this Good Shepherd was not satisfied with giving His life for His sheep; He desired also, after His death, to leave them His very body itself, already first sacrificed on the Cross, that it might be the food and pasture of their souls. "The burning love which He bore for us," says St. John Chrysostom, "induced Him to unite Himself to us, in order to make Himself one thing with us, for such is the instinctive desire of ardent lovers."
And then, when this Good Shepherd sees one of His sheep lost, what does He not do, what means does He not take, to recover it? And He does not cease to seek it till He finds it. "If He shall lose one of them," says Our Lord in the Gospel, "He goes after that which was lost until He finds it." And when He has found it, rejoicing, He places it upon His shoulders, that He may not lose it again; and calling to Him His friends and neighbors, that is, the Angels and Saints, He invites them to rejoice with Him for having recovered the sheep that was lost. Who then would not love with all his affections this good Lord, who shows Himself thus loving to sinners who have turned their backs upon Him and lost themselves of their own accord!

O my amiable Savior, behold at Thy feet a lost sheep! I have left Thee, but Thou hast not abandoned me. Thou hast left no means untried to recover me. What would have become of me if Thou hast not thought of seeking me? Unhappy me! How long have I not lived far from Thee! Now, through Thy mercy, I trust that I am in Thy grace; and though formally I fled from Thee, now I desire nothing but to love Thee and to live and die embracing Thy feet. But as long as I live, I am in danger of leaving Thee. Oh bind me, bind me fast with the chains of Thy holy love, and cease not to seek me for so long as I live on this earth. "I have gone astray like a sheep that is lost; seek Thy servant." (Psalms 118:176).
O Advocate of Sinners, obtain for me holy perseverance.
[Excepted from 'Devout Reflections and Meditations' by St. Alphonsus Liguori] (Public domain)

"Be Joyful Representatives of Your Eucharistic Jesus"

"Be Joyful Representatives of Your Eucharistic Jesus"

By "Anne," a Lay Apostle

The following presents the initial messages from Jesus to Anne regarding his own Eucharistic presence. The messages are both sublime and powerful, and we share them with you. Anne, a visionary from Ireland, has received permission from her local ordinary, Bishop Leo O'Reilly, for the distribution of messages which she receives from Jesus, God the Father, Our Blessed Mother, the angels and saints. – Ed. August 22, 2003 Jesus The love in My heart gushes forth upon your world. In an unparalleled manner, I lavish graces on souls. My children, My love is such that I can no longer contain it. I see so many in need of Me, and truly, they shall have Me. Bring My words to those who suffer. My words will be the balm you will use to nurse souls back to wellness. Like heavenly nurses, you will apply My words to every wound and you will see miraculous results. My children, I am working through you. I am using you as healing instruments. Your world is sick and suffers from a disease far worse than any disease of the body. The very soul of your world struggles now, to find the source of healing it requires. And I am here. I intend to heal your world. I want you to be joyful representatives of your Eucharistic Jesus. The Eucharistic Jesus calls out to His children in firmness. I call you each by name and I say to you, "It is time to return to Me." Come to Me, waiting in the tabernacle, and I will reveal Myself to you in such a way that you will have no doubts. You will be glad in your heart and peaceful in your soul. Rest near the Eucharistic heart of your Savior and you will be granted everything you need. Faith is a gift, My dear one. I wish to give this gift to you. But you must turn to Me so that I may. My heart beats only with love for you. I can promise you that I will not reproach you. I will help you understand that only joy and light is suitable for a child of God. You will return to us one day. Let us make that the most joyful day of your life. Come to Me, My child, and I will show you how. You say, "Jesus, I forget how to pray." My child, does a small one forget how to cry when he is hurt? Of course not. Come before Me and cry out your pain, your hurt, and your fear. We need not do it all in one day, but take the first step to Me by coming in front of Me. Put yourself in My Eucharistic presence and I will do the rest. The work will come from Me. I will move you back swiftly to that place that has been reserved for only you in My Sacred Heart. You see, My child, if you have been away from Me, that place has been empty. I, your Jesus, have felt the emptiness terribly as I waited for your return. My heart aches waiting for you, so do not let Me suffer another moment. Do you begin to understand? I love you totally. You were meant to be with Me. Do not let anything hinder your return. I am your God, the God of All. The world wants to trick you out of your inheritance, but I hold it for you. It is safe with Me, My child, so return to Me now, that I may begin to heal you. August 25, 2003 Jesus Our work continues. I remain a prisoner in this tabernacle. I wait for every soul who is absent from Me. My children must understand that I am drawing souls to Myself. I can no longer stand by and watch so many souls lost for eternity. In days past, there would be a small number of souls who chose to remain parted from Me for eternity. This caused Me suffering, it is true. In these times, though, My presence in the world and dominion over this world is treated so casually that many souls choosing darkness are led to believe this is almost a meaningless decision. They do not understand the impact. Indeed, some of My children are casual about their eternity because they believe they will have several attempts at life in this world. I tell you today, children, this is a Godless notion created and perpetuated by the evil one who would like to downplay the importance of what you do with this time. There is only one life allotted to each soul. There can be no question about that. Do not believe that you will come back to earth again for another chance. It is this life you are living that will determine your eternity. So, My children, now that we all understand the importance of this day, and this series of days allotted to you, let us make a decision on how you will spend the remainder of your time. I would like you to help Me. I know exactly how many days are left before you appear before Me in the next life. I have special work that needs to be done. Indeed, I have special work for each one of these days remaining to you. If you will say "yes" to Me, I can rest more easily, knowing those tasks will be completed and souls, the certain number attached to your work, will be saved. Additionally, I will have the joy, the happiness of knowing that My immeasurable love for you is returned. My child, come to Me and do My work. You will find no greater joy on this earth. Ask My true followers. They know the ecstasy of feeling My smile in their soul. I want that for you. Let Me assure you that, in most cases, My work for you involves you remaining in your current role. I simply want you to be at peace. I want you to know you are loved. I want to be with you as you struggle and I want to keep you safe. You will experience your days differently when you unite them to Me. What formerly caused distress for you will be barely a ripple against the great peace I am offering. I can take even the smallest, humblest acts of love and obedience and use them to rescue a soul. So instead of merely surviving your time here, you will be using your days, already and always finite, to rescue souls who are living without Me and, in some cases, living against Me. We must have hope for every soul, My dear one. Rest in My tremendous grace during this time as I continue to reveal My great secrets to you. August 26, 2003 Jesus Children, I want to speak with you about obedience. I, as your God, am obedient to you. I protect you when I am asked. I render assistance when I am prevailed upon. I created a beautiful world for you to learn about love so you might earn your heaven. I, your God, am doing My part. I am asking you now to do your part. I speak only from concern, My children. Your world, distorted as it is, seeks to confuse you and make you think that obedience is a negative thing that weakens you. I assure you, My child, I am all powerful. I am Jesus Christ and if you look at My time in your world, you will see that I was obedient to all whose obedience had call upon Me. I was obedient to God. I was obedient to the laws of that time set forth by the governing rulers. I was obedient to the religious authorities. I was also obedient to My parents. If you study My life you will see a life of Holy Obedience and meekness. And yet, a man with more power never walked the face of your earth. There is great strength in obedience, and I want to show that to you. Come to Me in the Sacrament of the Eucharist and I will teach you about obedience, revealing its beauty and the strength that lies with this misunderstood virtue. What am I asking of you, you might wonder. I am asking you to obey your Church, first of all. My Church has suffered in this time. Many children have taken this passion time of the Church as a license to be disobedient. Children, this must cease. You are called on to be obedient to your Church and in this way you are obedient to Me. I do not seek your destruction, My child. I seek your salvation. That is why I have given you this Church with all of its wisdom. Many souls say that the world has changed and because of this, the Church must change. Well, I assure you today, I have not changed. Heaven has not changed. You will discover this first-hand one day. The changes have occurred in your world and I am coming to you today through this prophet to tell you that the changes are destroying mankind. Change is not always bad, of course, but your world has deteriorated to an Age of Disobedience and too many souls are being lost. I am intervening in a significant way now to reset the course and direction for you. Heed My words this day. I come to you in love, My children. I bring you unlimited graces. Do not be afraid to change your life, even though it means admitting you have made mistakes. A wise man does not fear mistakes because he knows they are inevitable. Indeed, it is through these mistakes and through the study of past mistakes that we learn for the future. And it is the future I am concerned about. I want your future to be glorious. I want only good things for you. I have the graces necessary to insure that you succeed spiritually. You need not fear that you are not holy enough to follow Me. My child, I know all. I call you because your destiny lies with Me. I am your God and I call you by name, into My heavenly service. Do not disappoint Me. Begin by the smallest acts of obedience to your Church and I will lead you to the heights of holiness for which I created you. Fear nothing. Sit with Me in silence and I promise to direct you. You need only come to Me and the changes will begin. How you will welcome these changes. Your world does not offer peace. Peace comes only from Me. Make haste to return to Me for My graces are waiting. August 27, 2003 Jesus Today I wish to speak to My children about heaven. Heaven is real, dear ones. It is a place and I am there. Most of your deceased family members are here along with all of the saints and many others whom you have not met. There is great fellowship in heaven, particularly among souls who served Me in similar ways. You will feel no pain or fatigue here, but, at times, you will rest in ideas and concepts so that you can learn them. You see, My children, your learning continues and the quenching of the thirst for knowledge is a part of heaven because everyone is able to learn about any topic that sparks their curiosity. You can then build on that and graduate to even deeper levels of knowledge and knowing. This does not feel like school. It is joy and wonder. It is innocence and love. It is coming into the mystery of your universe in such a way that you then help to direct the universe. My children, because of your limited understanding, which is necessary while you remain on earth, I cannot tell you everything. But I wanted to share this glimpse of heaven with you and I will continue to part the curtains, as it were, so that you understand where you are going. It is good to know your destination so that you know how to prepare. I, your Jesus, am helping you prepare. If you listen to Me, and prepare well, you will be ready for heaven when it is time to come here. In this way, the day of your earthly death will be the best day of your life. Believe Me, My children, when I tell you that all of us here in heaven await your coming. We are linked to you. My children on earth like to think that holiness is someone else's call. If you are listening to Me now, you understand that holiness is your call. If your destination is heaven, and of course it should be, then you must begin your preparation now. You would hardly travel to a foreign country without learning at least something about what you will want and need there. So take heed when I tell you that you will want to practice the virtues while you remain on earth. Try to view it as learning to speak the heavenly language before your arrival here. I want to tell you, My children, that the saints, everyone here, clamors to assist you now. You are living in dark times and many of you have fallen into a spiritual sleep. I am preparing to make a loud noise, in a manner of speaking, to awaken your world. Better for you, My child, that you open your eyes gently now and begin to serve from love and obedience, as opposed to fear. If you follow Me now, you will nearly eradicate fear from your life. I felt stabs of human fear for fleeting moments, as in the Garden and when I was condemned to death. But My faith and knowledge assured Me that man could hurt My body, but My soul remained intact, belonging to God and this heavenly world. It will be the same for you, children. You will fear nothing. Additionally, if you follow Me, you will receive extraordinary graces to deal with anything that frightens you. I will manage any fears you have, both now and in the future, and this is another solemn promise I make to you. Also, I give you permission to be like small children, often saying to their parents, "You promised!" August 28, 2003 Jesus My children, I am with you. You have heard Me say that many times before. Perhaps I have said it so often that you do not really hear it. Today, I want you to both hear these words, and understand them. I am with you. Does that mean I watch you from heaven, hoping all goes well with you? Does it mean I gaze out over My whole world, seeing only the large events? No. I am with you. I am with you, My child. That means I see the world from your eyes. I walk your walks and I experience what you experience. I am there when you are hurt. I feel the sting of human unkindness when you experience it. I feel the weakness and pain in your body when you are sick. My compassionate gaze, so filled with love and understanding, rests upon you every minute of every day. I forgive you any sins even before these sins are committed. But you must admit to your sins and ask forgiveness. My child, do not think you have been abandoned. I say with divine solemnity, I am with you. So, begin to focus on the fact that every minute of every day, your Jesus is present. Talk to Me, dear child. I have so much to tell you. I have the answers for your difficulties. I have explanations for things you do not understand. I have love for people that you do not feel. So if you focus on the reality of My presence, you will begin to rely on Me. My child, then the transition can begin. Once you begin to rely on Me, your life will get easier and less stressful. You will walk away from even the most difficult situations and leave them behind, instead of carrying that worry with you into the next area of your life. You will find this to be so liberating that quite quickly it will become your habit. And then, child, it will be Me working through you. And when that goal is reached, there is no limit to what you can do. Again I say to you today, you must practice for something to become a habit. So today, concentrate on My continual presence. Ask Me what I would like you to do. Ask Me what words I would like you to use. Then listen to My answer. My Spirit will speak to you and you will hear the words, resting upon your soul. In this way, we can communicate all day long. Have faith. I give you faith today, as you take these first steps to unity with Me. There is no situation where you should leave Me. Even in the most difficult of circumstances, call upon Me. Even in sinful conditions, or should I say especially in sinful conditions, cry out to Me. I am there anyway, My child. You cannot hide your sin by ignoring Me and hoping I have gone away. So speak to Me. Say, "Lord, help me." You will not be disappointed. I will help you. I bring you these words today so that you may understand that I am with you. I will never leave you. I await your notice and stand by, ready to assure you that you are cherished by Me and that I did not put you on earth to do work that was too hard for you. If your life is too hard, My little soul, it is because you are trying to accomplish it alone. You need Me. And I am here for you. So let us waste no more time. Jesus, your Jesus, is asking for your attention. Once I have your attention, we can proceed. You will never regret having returned to Me. Do not hesitate. Come and sit before Me in the tabernacle and we will begin. For further information regarding the Lay Apostolate of Jesus Christ the Returning King, or to purchase Heaven Speaks booklets, please contact Direction for Our Times on the Web at www.directionforourtimes.com, or mail inquiries to the following address: 9000 West 81st St., Justice, IL 60458, U.S.A.

 

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #356

" I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd layeth down his life for the sheep. He that is a hireling, and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, beholdeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth, and the wolf snatcheth them, and scattereth them: he fleeth because he is a hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and I know mine own, and mine own know me, even as the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep." (John 10:11-15)

THE LOVE OF JESUS FOR SINNERS: The touching parable of the lost sheep shows our Lord's compassionate love for individual sinners. The lost sheep signifies a sinner who, obeying his own evil inclinations and the allurements of sin, has separated himself from Jesus, and is shut out from the number of the faithful. But the Savior does not withdraw His love from the wanderer. Even as, during His sojourn on earth, He labored for the conversion of sinners, so does He now go after the sinner. He calls him by His grace, by His priests, and invites him to return once more to the fold, by means of the Sacrament of Penance. And when He has found him, He supports him on the difficult road of penance, and receives him back with joy. Jesus does this not for His own sake, since He does not require this straying sinner: He seeks him out of pure love and compassion for the poor sinner himself, wandering about and in momentary danger of falling into the abyss of Hell. And it was because the Good Shepherd and His "friends" were so anxious about the salvation of that sheep which was in danger, that their joy of his return and salvation is greater, and shows itself more outwardly, than their calm joy about the faithful who are walking without wavering on the path of salvation.

[From 'A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture' by Bishop Knecht, D.D.]
(1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)

Reflection #25

Souls that Greatly Love
God Long to Go and Behold
Him in Heaven

"While we are in the body, we are absent from the Lord," says the Apostle. (2 Corinthians 5:6). Souls who in this life love nothing but God are like noble pilgrims, destined, according to their present state, to be the eternal spouse of the King of Heaven, but who now live at a distance without seeing Him. Wherefore, they do nothing but sigh for their departure to the country of the Blessed, where they know that their Spouse awaits them.
They know indeed that their Beloved is ever present with them, but He is as it were hidden behind a curtain and does not show Himself. Or rather, He is as the sun is frequently, behind clouds, through which, from time to time, it sends forth some ray of its splendor, but does not display itself openly. Moreover, these beloved spouses have a bandage over their eyes, which prevents them from seeing the object of their love. They live, nevertheless, contented, uniting themselves to the will of the Lord, who chooses to keep them in exile and far away from Himself; but with all this, they cannot but continually sigh to behold Him face to face, in order to become more charmed and more inflamed with love for Him.
Therefore, each one of them often sweetly complains to its beloved Spouse because He does not show Himself and says: "O Thou only Love of my heart, since Thou dost love me so much and hast wounded me with Thy holy love, why dost Thou hide Thyself and dost not let me see Thee? I know that Thou art an Infinite Beauty; I love Thee more than myself, though I have never yet beheld Thee. Show me Thy beautiful countenance; I long to see Thee unveiled, so that I may no longer behold myself nor any creature and may think only of loving Thee, my Sovereign Good."
When to these souls thus enamored of God there shines forth any ray of the Divine Goodness and of the love which God bears them, they would wish to be dissolved and melt away for desire of Him; and yet for them the sun is still behind the clouds, and His fair face is concealed behind a veil, and their is still the bandage over their eyes, so that they cannot gaze upon Him face to face. But what will be their joy when the clouds shall disperse, when the veil shall be withdrawn, and the bandage shall be taken from their eyes, and the fair countenance of their Spouse shall appear unveiled, so that in the clear light they shall see His beauty, His goodness, His greatness and the love which He bears for them!

O death, why dost thou so long delay to come? If thou comest not, I cannot depart to behold my God. It is thou who must open to me the gate, that I may enter into the palace of my Lord. O blessed country, when will the day come in which I shall find myself within thine eternal tabernacles?

O Beloved of my soul, my Jesus, my Treasure, my Love, my All, when shall come that happy moment when, leaving this earth, I shall see myself entirely united to Thee? I deserve not this happiness; but the love which Thou hast shown me, and still more Thine Infinite Goodness, makes me hope that I shall be one day joined to those happy souls who, being wholly united to Thee, love Thee and will love Thee with a perfect love through all eternity. O my Jesus, Thou seest the alternative in which I am placed, of being forever united to Thee, or forever banished far from Thee. Have pity upon me; Thy Blood is my hope!
And thy intercession, O my Mother Mary, is my comfort and my joy!
[Excepted from 'Devout Reflections and Meditations' by St. Alphonsus Liguori] (Public domain)

Me in 1987
'Proclaiming the Gospel'

G. K. Chesterton Quote: "People have fallen into the foolish habit of speaking of orthodoxy as very humdrum. There never was anything so perilous and exciting as orthodoxy."

My Comment:
How true! My faith has never been so exciting since discovering the fullness of its truths and a firm belief in it as coming from God Himself! It's easy to deny the truths of our faith, i. e., the miracles, the truth of the Gospel, the supernatural reality of the Sacraments, Jesus True Presence in the Eucharist, the Angels, Heaven & Hell, Purgatory, the apparitions of Jesus and Mary throughout history, etc.

But when we believe in these truths, we become so excited about our Faith that we want everyone to believe like we do!

But it is perilous! We will suffer for these truths. I know cause I've been called "old Fashioned," traditionalist," "a Feenyite" (Fr. Feeny denied salvation outside the Catholic Church and was condemned for it, but did come back in good standing before he died); I've been rejected, ignored, pasted over, mocked, left out, etc. because of my orthodoxy; but so was Our Lord rejected, abandoned, mocked, and crucified for proclaiming the Truth and orthodoxy!

But what's more important to us, honors and praise for being with it; or humility and scorn for being with the Lord? I choose "being with the Lord!" I suffer silently for my Faith. How about you?
Deacon John

From Mark Mallett:

How Long?

Christ Grieving Over the World, by Michael D. O’Brien

FROM a letter I recently received:

I have read your writings for 2 years and feel they are so on track. My wife receives locutions and so much of what she writes down is parallel to yours.

But I have to share with you that both my wife and I have been so disheartened over the past several months. We feel as if we are losing the battle and the war. Look around and see all of the evil. It is as if Satan is winning in all areas. We feel so ineffective and so full of despair. We feel like giving up, at a time when the Lord and Blessed Mother need us and our prayers the most!! We feel like we are becoming "a deserter", as it said in one of your writings. I have fasted every week for almost 9 years, but in the past 3 months I have only been able to do it twice.

You speak of hope and the victory that is coming in the battle Mark. Do you have any words of encouragement ? How long are we going to have to endure and suffer in this world we live in ?

Dear friend, a few years ago I sat at the piano and wrote a song which in many ways expresses the fatigue and grief which I hear in your letter. I want to share that song with you now before you read the rest of this letter. It’s called How Long? You can watch the video below, or click on the title to hear the song in high quality.

Click here to continue: http://www.markmallett.com/blog/?p=748

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #355

"And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and they shall become one flock, one shepherd." (John 10:16)


THE ONE, UNITED, CATHOLIC CHURCH: Our Lord foretold that the Gentiles also would believe in Him, and all the faithful, both Jews and Gentiles, would be united in one fold, under one Shepherd. According to our Lord's words there would be only one Church, and this Church was to be united. It was not to be split up into a multitude of national churches in every part of the world, but was to spread itself by degrees over the whole face of the earth, and all nations were to be gathered into its fold. The Church foretold by our Lord was to be a Catholic or universal Church. Now this one, united, and Catholic Church which, according to His good pleasure, our Lord founded, can only be the Roman Catholic Church, in which the faithful of the five parts of the world are joined together in real unity of faith and government under one Chief Shepherd, the Pope.

[From 'A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture' by Bishop Knecht, D.D.]
(1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)

Reflection #24

On the House of Eternity

"Man shall go into the house of his eternity." (Ecclesiastes 12:5). We err in calling this habitation in which we now dwell our home. The home of our body in a little while will be a grave, in which it must rest until the Day of Judgment; and the home of the soul will be either Paradise or Hell, according as it has deserved, and there will it remain through all eternity.
At our burial, our corpses will not go to the grave of themselves; they will be carried there by others; but the soul will go of itself to the place which awaits it, either eternal joy or eternal woe. "Man shall go into the house of his eternity." According as a man lives well or ill, so he goes of himself to his home in Paradise or in Hell, which habitation he shall never change.
Those who live on this earth often change their dwelling, either to please themselves or because they are compelled. In eternity the dwelling is never changed; where we enter at first, there we abide forever. "If the tree fall to the south or to the north, in what place soever it shall fall, there shall it be." (Ecclesiastes 11:3). He that enters in the south, which is Heaven, will be ever happy; he that enters in the north, which is Hell, will be ever miserable.
He, then, who enters Heaven will be always united with God, always in company with the Saints, always in perfect peace, always fully satisfied, because every blessed soul is filled and satiated with joy, nor will he ever know the fear of losing it. If fear of losing the happiness they enjoy could enter among the Blessed, they would be no longer Blessed, for the mere thought of losing the joy they possess would disturb the peace they enjoy.
On the contrary, whoever enters into Hell will be forever far from God; he will be ever suffering in the fire among the damned. Let us not think that the pains of Hell will be like those of earth, where, by the effect of habit, a pain grows less; for, as in Paradise the delights will never cause weariness, but seem ever new as though they were the first time enjoyed (which is implied by the expression of "the new canticle," which the blessed are ever singing); so on the contrary, in Hell, the pains never diminish their torment. The miserable beings who are damned will feel the same agony through all eternity which they felt in the first moment they experienced the pains of Hell.
St. Augustine used to say that he who believes in eternity and is not converted to God has either lost his reason or his faith. "Woe," cries St. Caesarius, "woe to sinners who enter eternity without knowing what it is through having neglected to think upon it." And then he adds, "But, O double woe! They enter it, and they never come forth." It is a double woe, the first of which will be to fall into that abyss of fire; the second, that he who falls into it will never come out: the gate of Hell opens only to those who enter, not to those who would go out.
No, the Saints did not do too much when they went to hide themselves in caves and deserts, to live upon herbs and sleep on the ground in order to save their souls. No, "They did not do too much," says St. Bernard, "because, where eternity is in question, no security can be too great." When therefore God visits us with any cross of sickness, poverty or other trial, let us think of the Hell we have deserved, and thus every affliction will appear light. Let us say, with Job: "I have sinned, and indeed I have offended, and I have not received what I deserved." (Job 33:27). O Lord, I have offended Thee and so many times betrayed Thee, and I have not been punished as I deserved; how, then, can I complain if Thou sendest me some affliction--I, who have deserved Hell?

O my Jesus, send me not to Hell, for in Hell I could no longer love Thee, but would have to hate Thee forever. Deprive me of everything--of goods, of health, of life--but deprive me not of Thyself. Grant that I may love Thee and praise Thee forever, and then chastise me and do with me what Thou wilt.
O Mother of God, pray to Jesus for me.
[Excepted from 'Devout Reflections and Meditations' by St. Alphonsus Liguori] (Public domain)

Eucharistic Hate Videos on YouTube

ICHR Calls on YouTube to Pull Anti-Catholic 'Eucharistic Desecration' Hate Videos

Calls video an outrageous insult to Catholics

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 26 /Christian Newswire/ -- The International Crusade for Holy Relics is demanding that YouTube pull video showing desecration of the Eucharist from its site.

The video series posted by "fsmdude" includes a variety of desecrations of the Eucharist using a toilet, a saw, a blender, and a variety of other means.

Catholics believe the Eucharist is the body of Christ.

Serafin first learned of the outrage after a phone call from the News Website www.headlinebistro.com seeking comment on the situation.

"This outrage must be stopped," said Tom Serafin, ICHR president. "This is a direct affront to a quarter of the United States population, it is an outrageous insult, and has no merit whatsoever."

He added: "YouTube has the resources of Google - one of the nation's largest companies - behind it, and yet somehow, something this outrageous and offensive slipped through, and they are still searching for an answer. We demand, on behalf of Catholics everywhere, that it be removed immediately."

YouTube bans offensive material as follows:

· YouTube is not a shock site. Don't post gross- out videos of accidents, dead bodies or similar things intended to shock or disgust.

· We encourage free speech and defend everyone's right to express unpopular points of view. But we don't permit hate speech (speech which attacks or demeans a group based on race or ethnic origin, religion, disability, gender, age, veteran status, and sexual orientation/gender identity).

"After reviewing these videos, it is clear that YouTube's ban is not being enforced," he said. "Not only are they not enforcing their own rules, but they are helping others to spread a disgusting message of hate."

The ICHR is the foremost internet watchdog group of Catholic laymen. The organization has fought the online sale of relics of the saints and of the Eucharist - primarily on eBay - for more than a decade.

My friends, let us offer to God prayers of reparation for these blasphemies committed against the Blessed Sacrament! We could pray the prayers taught by the Angel of Fatima for start:

[Say 3 times each]

My God, I believe, I adore, I trust and I love Thee; I beg pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not trust, and do not love Thee. 

O Most Holy Trinity, I adore Thee; My God, my God, I love Thee in the Most Blessed Sacrament.

O Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and the Holy Spirit, I adore Thee profoundly, and I offer Thee the Most Precious Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the offenses, sacrileges and indifference by which He is offended. By the infinite merits of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg the conversion of poor sinners.

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #354

" I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd layeth down his life for the sheep. He that is a hireling, and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, beholdeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth, and the wolf snatcheth them, and scattereth them: he fleeth because he is a hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and I know mine own, and mine own know me, even as the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep." (John 10:11-15)

JESUS IS THE LORD AND CHIEF SHEPHERD OF THE REDEEMED: The sheep belong to Him, because He has bought them with His Precious Blood.

[From 'A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture' by Bishop Knecht, D.D.]
(1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)

This is cool! I just discovered that there is a blog on Catholics Online! So I jotted down these words as a start and reposting them here.

I just posted here my latest St. Alphonsus except from his book "Attaining Salvation, Devout Reflections and Meditations". The reflection was on Death and what prayers to say at that moment. So here's a few thoughts of mine:

Do you think about your death? You should, you know. I think it was Fr. Rutler who wrote a book about the "Four Last Things" i.e. death, judgment, Heaven, Hell. So thinking about these events that surely must happen, let's take death first:

I always thought I would die at about 62 years old. My mother died in her sixties and my dad died at 37 (He had TB from the war). I was born a "blue baby", which means I didn't get the proper oxygen at birth and also had a heart problem. At about 11 or 12 I developed Rheumatic fever, enlarged heart and something called chorea (not sure of the spelling). Anyway, I was supposed to die then, according to what the doctors told my mother. At one point I had a fever of 107 degrees and was in an oxygen tent! Amazingly, through God's grace, I survived but always had those thoughts of death with me. Now I'm, not a saint but I do try to stay in a state of grace, avoiding occasions of sin, so that if I do die, I can at least say I tried to be good. When I was young, I used to think that my father was watching me from Heaven, and if I did something sinful he would see me and get mad. Actually, it is God the Father who is always watching us, so we better be good!

That brings me to Judgment: When I die I always wonder what I will be judged upon. Did I do any "good works", save any souls, teach any religion, feed, clothe, visit, console anyone. I'm sure I did, so I hope the scales balance out in my favor! By the way, I wear the Brown Scapular as an added grace for a happy death! One of the promises is that Our Lady will get us out of Purgatory on the first Saturday after we die, I hope to die on a Saturday, so I don't have to go to Purgatory! (smiley face)

Heaven: that's my goal, unlike many Catholics who say, "I just want to make it to Purgatory", my goal is Heaven, and with my Mother Mary as my salvation and guide, I'm really looking forward to that blessed day of flying with the angels to Heaven.

Finally Hell: Someplace where no one should go but unfortunately many do. If you do go there, it was not God who sent you! You condemned yourself by your rejecting God's grace and love; even hating Him because He tried to save your soul!

Inspired by the children of Fatima, I always pray for the conversion of sinners and try to bring the message of God's love to everyone I meet. Jesus, Mary, I love You; Save souls!

So that's some of my thoughts on the Four Last Things! What are yours?
Deacon John

Reflection #23

Acts to Be Made at Death

It was revealed to St. Lydwina [of Schiedam, 1380-1433] by an angel that the crown of merits and glory which awaited her in Heaven would not be completed without the sufferings which she was to endure in the days immediately preceding her death. The same thing happens to all devout souls when they depart from this world. It is certain that all good acts, and especially those of resignation in accepting death, performed with the view of pleasing God, are of great merit to everyone who dies in the grace of God. Here are the acts of devotion which may be very acceptable to Almighty God at the hour of death.

O my God, I offer Thee my life, and I am prepared to die at any hour which may be pleasing to Thy holy will. "Thy will be done." Always, always, "Thy will be done!"
O Lord, if Thou willest to leave me in life for some time longer, be Thou blessed; but I desire not life, unless I have spent it all in loving Thee and in giving Thee pleasure. If Thou willest that I should die in this sickness, mayest Thou still be blessed. I embrace death that I may do Thy will, and I repeat: "Thy will be done, Thy will be done." I only beg of Thee to help me all through this time. "Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy." If, then, Thou willest that I should leave this earth, I protest that I desire to die, because such is Thy will.
And I desire to die, in order that, by the anguish and bitterness of my death, I may satisfy Thy Divine Justice for so many sins by which I have offended Thee and deserved Hell.
I also desire to die that I may never more offend Thee, or cause Thee displeasure in this life.
Moreover, I desire to die in acknowledgment of the gratitude which I owe Thee for so many benefits and kindnesses that Thou hast bestowed on me, contrary to my deserts.
I desire to die that I may prove that I love Thy will more than my life.
I desire, if it pleases Thee, to die now, when I trust I am in Thy grace, in order to be assured that I shall praise and bless Thee forever.
I desire above all to die in order that I may come to love Thee eternally and with all my powers in Heaven, where through Thy Blood, O my Redeemer, I hope to come and to be safe from ever ceasing to love Thee through all eternity. O my Jesus, Thou didst accept the death of the cross through love of me; I accept death and all the pains which await me through love of Thee. Meanwhile, I say with St. Francis: "May I die, O Lord, for the love of Thy love, who didst deign to die for the love of my love."

I pray Thee, O my Savior, my Love, and my only Good, by Thy holy wounds and Thy bitter death, make me die in Thy grace and in Thy love. Thou hast purchased me with Thy Blood; suffer me not to perish. O sweetest Jesus, suffer me not to be separated from Thee; suffer me not to be separated from Thee!

O Lord, cast me not away from Thy face. I confess that by my sins I have deserved Hell, but I grieve for them more than for any other evil; and I hope to come to Heaven to praise forever these great mercies Thou hast shown me. "The mercies of the Lord I will sing forever."

I adore Thee, O my God, who hast created me. I believe in Thee, O Eternal Truth. I hope in Thee, O Infinite Mercy. I love Thee, O Supreme Goodness; I love Thee above everything; I love Thee more than myself, for Thou art worthy of being loved. And because I love Thee, I repent with all my heart for having despised Thy grace. I promise Thee to suffer every kind of death, and a thousand deaths, rather than displease Thee again.

I Jesus, Son of God, who didst die for me, have pity upon me! My Savior, save me; and let it be my salvation to love Thee eternally.
O Mary, Mother of God, pray to Jesus for me; now is the time in which thou hast most to help me. Mary, Mother of Grace, Mother of Mercy, defend us from the enemy and receive us in the hour of death. "We fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God! Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners!"
St. Joseph, my patron and my father, help me at this time. St. Michael the Archangel, deliver me from the devils who lie in wait for my soul. O my holy advocates, and all ye Saints of Paradise, pray to God for me.

And Thou, my Crucified Jesus, at the moment when I must breathe my last, receive my soul into Thy arms; to Thee I recommend it; remember that Thou hast redeemed me with Thy Blood. "We therefore pray Thee, help Thy servants whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy precious Blood." O my Crucified Jesus, my love and my hope, whether I live or die, I protest that I desire Thee alone and nothing more. Thou art my God and my all, and what else can I desire but Thee! "What have I in Heaven? And besides Thee, what do I desire upon earth? . . . Thou art the God of my heart and the God that is my portion forever!" (Psalms 72:25-26). Thou art the love of my heart; Thou art all my riches!

To Thee, then, I recommend my soul--to Thee, who hast redeemed it by Thy death. "Into Thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit: Thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, the God of truth." (Psalms 30:6). Trusting in Thy mercy, I therefore say, "In Thee, O Lord, have I hoped; I shall not be confounded forever." (Psalms 30:1). O Mary, thou art my hope; "Hail, our hope!" To thee, therefore, I say again, "In thee, O Lady, have I hoped; I shall not be confounded forever."
[Excepted from 'Devout Reflections and Meditations' by St. Alphonsus Liguori] (Public domain)

MARY OUR MOTHER

View my page on Catholics Online

Our Lady's Latest Monthly Message

Our Lady's Message of September 25, 2008

“Dear children! May your life, anew, be a decision for peace. Be joyful carriers of peace and do not forget that you live in a time of grace, in which God gives you great graces through my presence. Do not close yourselves, little children, but make good use of this time and seek the gift of peace and love for your life so that you may become witnesses to others. I bless you with my Motherly Blessing. Thank you for having responded to my call.”

There will be a broadcast tonight, Thursday September 25th here on mej.com’s Radio WAVE regarding Our Lady of Medjugorje’s September 25, 2008 message. See chart below for your local times, and Click Here to Open the Radio WAVE Player to Listen to the Live Show

Your Time Zone	Online Air Time
Eastern Time	8:00 PM - Thursday (September 25)
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In prayer we receive the power of Christ!

VATICAN - "AVE MARIA" by Mgr Luciano Alimandi -

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - To step outside our own little "world" where, – because our nature, tainted by sin, has become totally self-centred – usually, everything revolves around, "me", we need prayer. Only if we open to God with humility and trust, can the light and the power of His truth enter our hearts and enlighten our minds.

"Raise up ancient doors, let the king of glory enter" (Ps 23, 7), these inspired words of the psalmist, urge us to let the "King of glory" the Lord Jesus, enter our being. The "doors" of the soul's higher powers– intellect, memory and will - need to open and this "movement" is helped first of all by prayer. Humble and trustful prayer has the power not only to 'open' our own doors, but also those of others. If the doors of the heart are closed to Christ, all our efforts are useless.

The grace of the present moment flows only into a soul open to the Lord in prayer. A person who believes in the power of prayer, puts prayer before everything: finding refuge and strength in it before any kind of pastoral action; acting accompanied by prayer and with prayer bringing action to completion. This we are taught by the saints!

What wisdom we hear on this matter, in the words of Saint John of the Cross: "The most active who think to embrace the world with their preaching and exterior works, should remember that it would be of more benefit for the Church and far better pleasing to God, not to mention the good example they would give, if they were to spend at least half that time with Him in prayer, even if they have not reached the level of such lofty prayer. Certainly then, with less fatigue, they would obtain more with one work than with a thousand, through the merit of their prayer and through the spiritual strength thus obtained, otherwise everything would be reduced to striking blows with the hammer and doing next to nothing, indeed doing nothing and even harm. God forbid that the salt should become insipid, because then anything which seems to produce some good effect externally, in actual fact achieves nothing, since only by virtue of God can good works be performed" (commentary, Spiritual Canticle B, verse 29, 3).

Prayer also has the power to purify: it purifies our intentions and leads us to seek the will and glory of God in everything we do, putting aside our own advantage and honor. All the saints were persons of prayer and the most 'active' among them, were those who prayed the most. When Mother Teresa of Calcutta was asked about the power behind her Congregation, she pointed to the example of her sisters in the chapel, in adoration in front of the Blessed Sacrament from the early hours of the morning. It was here that the Missionaries of Charity found the strength to spare no effort to help the poorest of the poor! A giant of holiness, Saint Pio da Pietrelcina, gave first place to prayer all through his life: dedicating several hours of the day to prayer, and the older he became the longer and the more intense became his prayer.

The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI is making a call to prayer one of the strong points of his Magisterium. Recently in Lourdes he said: "Mary comes to remind us that prayer which is humble and intense, trusting and persevering, must have a central place in our Christian lives. Prayer is indispensable if we are to receive Christ's power.

"People who pray are not wasting their time, even though the situation appears desperate and seems to call for action alone" (Deus Caritas Est, 36). To allow oneself to become absorbed by activity runs the risk of depriving prayer of its specifically Christian character and its true efficacy. The prayer of the Rosary, so dear to Bernadette and to Lourdes pilgrims, concentrates within itself the depths of the Gospel message. It introduces us to contemplation of the face of Christ. From this prayer of the humble, we can draw an abundance of graces." (Benedict XVI, homily in Lourdes, 14 September 2008).

The teaching of the Church and the lives of the saints clearly show that in order to progress the soul must advance on the path of prayer. Rather adding "prayer" to "prayer", or multiplying devout "exercises", it is a question of learning to live in the presence of God, as He looks lovingly on all his creatures.

How true this is when we are in front of the tabernacle, where the Blessed Sacrament is preserved! Here is the Real Presence of Jesus: He sees us, He waits for us, He loves us… just as we are. To spend time in silence in front of Jesus in the Eucharist is a most eloquent prayers and so easy that everyone can do it. You only have to want to! May the maternal mediation of Mary and the example of the Saints fortify us in the decision to follow Jesus on the path of prayer, the best path of all!

(Agenzia Fides 24/9/2008)