The Light

"Beloved: The way we may be sure that we know him is to keep his commandments. 
Whoever says, "I know him," but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 
But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfected in him. This is the way we may know that we are in union with him: 
whoever claims to abide in him ought to live (just) as he lived." First Letter of John 2:3....

"God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all."

When they had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him."

Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt.

He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled, "Out of Egypt I called my son."

When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi, he became furious. He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had ascertained from the magi.

Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet:

A voice was heard in Ramah, sobbing and loud lamentation; Rachel weeping for her children, and she would not be consoled, since they were no more. - Matthew 2:13-18

Merry Christmas *** Buon Natale *** Joyeux Noël

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

For a CHILD IS BORN to us, and a son is given to us,

and the government is upon his shoulder:

and his name shall be called,

Wonderful, Counsellor,

God the Mighty, 

the Father of the world to come, 

the Prince of Peace. 

                    - Isaiah 9:6

Love

 John 14:20-21

20 On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.”

"I will give you rest."

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 11:28-30. 

Jesus said to the crowds: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves.

For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."

I waited patiently for the Lord

To the leader. Of David. A Psalm.

1 I waited patiently for the Lord;

    he inclined to me and heard my cry.

2 He drew me up from the desolate pit,

    out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a.  rock, making my steps secure.

3 He put a new song in my mouth,

    a song of praise to our God.  Many will see   and fear, and put their trust in theLord.

Prayer for the Unborn

Dear Father we ask You to protect our brothers and sisters now forming their earthly vessels in their mothers womb. Comfort their mothers and fathers.

Lord Jesus give these smallest of persons the strength to be born - to fully participate in Your creation.

May Your Holy Spirit infuse their souls with love for You and bring them safely home to Your heavenly kingdom after long, healthy and loving lives.

Amen

Advent 2015

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, grant us peace.

Pray, Hope and Don't Worry

"I have often raised my hand in the silence of the night and in my solitary cell, blessing you all and presenting you to Jesus and to our father, St. Francis of Assisi.

In all the events of life, you must recognize the Divine will. Adore and bless it, especially in the things which are the hardest for you.

In my greatest sufferings, it seems to me that I no longer have a mother on this earth, but a very compassionate one in Heaven.

Remember that God is within us when we are in a state of grace and outside of us when we are in a state of sin; but His angel never abandons us. . . He is our most sincere and faithful friend even when we sadden him with our bad behavior.

Prayer is the best weapon we possess. It is the key that opens the heart of God.

You must always humble yourself lovingly before God and before men, because God speaks only to those who are truly humble and He enriches them with His gifts.

Humility and purity are the wings which carry us to God and make us almost divine.

Let us always keep before our eyes the fact that here on earth we are on a battlefield and that in paradise we shall receive the crown of victory; that this is a testing-ground and the prize will be awarded up above; that we are now in a land of exile while our true homeland is Heaven to which we must continually aspire.

Jesus will assist you and give you the grace to live a heavenly life and nothing whatever will be able to separate you from His love.

I remind you that I belong with great ardor to everyone and for this reason I am suffering immensely for all.

Hold on tightly to the Rosary. Be very grateful to the Madonna because it was she who gave us Jesus." - St. Pio

“Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?"

Jesus Heals Ten Men With Leprosy

Luke 17:11-19

As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem,
he traveled through Samaria and Galilee.
As he was entering a village, ten persons with leprosy met him.  
They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying,
“Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!”
And when he saw them, he said,
“Go show yourselves to the priests.”
As they were going they were cleansed. 
And one of them, realizing he had been healed,
returned, glorifying God in a loud voice;
and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.  He was a Samaritan.
Jesus said in reply,
“Ten were cleansed, were they not?
Where are the other nine? 
Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” 
Then he said to him, “Stand up and go;
your faith has saved you.”

"See Mother, I make all things new."

Christ, in "The Passion of the Christ", explaining to His mother the purpose of His passion.  The fulfillment of His mission; to restore humanity to Himself, forgive the sins of the repentant, and making everything new.

Why did you doubt?

Matthew 14:30-31 

30 But when he saw how [strong] the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith,* why did you doubt?”

Remember that the Lord said an evil generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given.  Trust that God is working things out for you, even though you can't see it or understand how.  That's not your concern. Only be assured that He is working, and He is.  

"Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!"

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 18:35-43. 

As Jesus approached Jericho a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging, and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening. They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by." 
He shouted, "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!"
The people walking in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent, but he kept calling out all the more, "Son of David, have pity on me!" 
Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him, 
What do you want me to do for you? He replied, "Lord, please let me see." 
Jesus told him, "Have sight; your faith has saved you." 
He immediately received his sight and followed him, giving glory to God. When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God.

Another example of faith, persistence in asking and prayer, and recognizing God in our midst. The man refused to be silent when calling out to Jesus.  He was persistent.  He kept asking. Then the Lord so tenderly asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?"

We need to keep asking also, to keep believing, and to keep trusting.

Mary, Undoer of Knots

Meditation for the Third Day of the Novena to Mary, Undoer of Knots

Meditating Mother, Queen of heaven, in whose hands the treasures of the King are found, turn your merciful eyes upon me today. I entrust into your holy hands this knot in my life [mention your request here] and all the rancor and resentment it has caused in me. I ask Your forgiveness, God the Father, for my sin. Help me now to forgive all the persons who consciously or unconsciously provoked this knot. Give me, also, the grace to forgive myself for having provoked this knot. Only in this way can You undo it. Before You, dearest Mother, and in the name of Your Son Jesus, my Savior, who has suffered so many offenses, having been granted forgiveness, I now forgive these persons [mention their names here] and myself, forever. Thank you, Mary, Undoer of Knots for undoing the knot of rancor in my heart and the knot which I now present to you.  Amen.

Be a blessing to others

A smile, a kind word, or even a prayer for a stranger or someone you know.  

Faith, sight and healing

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark 10:46 

As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging. 
On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, son of David, have pity on me." 
And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he kept calling out all the more, "Son of David, have pity on me." 
Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take courage; get up, he is calling you." 
He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. 
Jesus said to him in reply, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man replied to him, "Master, I want to see." 
Jesus told him, "Go your way; your faith has saved you." Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way.
*************

The blind man was persistent in calling out to Jesus, not giving up, and remaining faithful in the knowledge that Jesus Christ would help him and He would heal him.  This man regained his sight when he asked Christ to heal him.

Similarly, I've been struggling with some resentment and I've been praying and asking Jesus Christ to heal me of the bitterness, to touch my heart and remove the resentment.  He did answer my prayer today.  He showed me a new way to look at the situation which, although still makes me sad about it, has removed the stain of resentment and bitterness.  

Jesus Christ always answers prayers.  Don't be discouraged.  Keep praying and asking for help and also be open to receiving the answer to your prayer. Thank you, Jesus Christ.  I love You.

Our Lady of the Rosary - October 7

A very special day....years ago on this feast day, the Holy Mother intervened to keep me from harm.  Thank you, Mother.  I love you, Mary.

Lord, send your angels to encamp around us.

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. 
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, 
and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits, 
who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen..

When they lifted up their eyes they saw no one but Jesus

Watching an old episode of Mother Angelica tonight and she mentioned that she used to repeat that sentence to herself, in order to keep focused on the Lord.  In all things, heed the Lord's command to trust and not fear.  Look up and see Him only, in all His glory and love.

Saint Anthony, born August 15, 1195 - died June 13, 1231

God is Love - His Sacred Heart

God's mercy and abundant, infinite love...the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  He came to earth and suffered.  Tortured and nailed to a cross for our sins, for our sinful nature.  Arising, He redeemed us.  In our hurts and disappointments, we can always find comfort in His love...in His Sacred Heart.  The love only God can give.

Be like children

"Little children follow and obey their father. They love their mother.
They know nothing of covetousness, ill- will, bad temper, arrogance
and lying. This state of mind opens the road to heaven. To imitate our
Lord's own humility, we must return to the simplicity of God's little
one's." --Saint Hilary of Poitiers

Grace

"The nuns taught us there were two ways through life—the way of nature and the way of grace. You have to choose which one you’ll follow… Grace doesn’t try to please itself. Accepts being slighted, forgotten, disliked. Accepts insults and injuries… Nature only wants to please itself. Get others to please it too. Likes to lord it over them. To have its own way. It finds reasons to be unhappy when all the world is shining around it. And love is smiling through all things… The nuns taught us that no one who loves the way of grace ever comes to a bad end." - The Tree of Life.

The Eucharist, the Real Presence

Jesus is really present in the Eucharist.   His physical presence among us, as close to us as He is to our hearts.  What an amazing and powerful blessing He has given to us.  We love you, Jesus.

The month of Mary

The beautiful statue at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia.  The faithful St. Anthony kneeling before the Christ held in His mother's arms.  The queen of heaven, the vessel by which God chose to enter the world, our heavenly mother.

Free will and temptation

"Your free will that God gave you is always stronger than temptation, with God's grace.  When you realize this, your life can be set on a beautiful course." - a priest's words to me at reconciliation.

"The Way" film

Yesterday, I watched this movie again and it is always good to see it.   It's a beautiful story of the human condition, all its ups and downs.  The loss, the pain, the struggles, the tears, the joy, the laughter, and love.  When you do things out of love, rather than fear, that's all there is.

In a poignant scene of "The Way", Tom lays a stone at the foot of the Cross of Iron  (Cruz del ferro), as is tradition for pilgrims, and recites the prayer:

“Lord, may this stone, a symbol of my efforts on the pilgrimage that I lay at the foot of the cross of the Saviour, one day weigh the balance in favor of my good deeds when the deeds of my life are judged. Let it be so.”

Amen.

Joy

Today our Lenten journey concludes with culmination of Jesus' mission - victory over death and sin.  His love for us is visible through the pages of the Gospels.  His healings, His miracles, the times He was moved with pity, the times that He wept.  Yes, God wept with us.  He joined us in our sorrow, our temptations, our sufferings, and joys.  His love visible in each station of the cross, as He suffered His passion for us.  Each step along the way, moving closer to the climax in human history where sin and death are conquered.  Yet, we still sin.  We are still tempted.  Myself?  I'm still struggling, too, with forgiving, with resentments, with desires.  But, we can begin again when we stumble.  We can ask for God's grace to change our very nature and fill our hearts with His divine love, kindness, and understanding.  We can ask Him for forgiveness, and confess our sins.  I love you, Jesus.  Thank you.

Mysticism

I heard a G.K. Chesterton quote recently  regarding the definition of mysticism: "passing through the moment when there is nothing but God."

Great quote.  In all things let's acknowledge  God's presence, love, and divine guidance.

Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.

Forgiveness.  Even as we, humanity, the creatures, were torturing Him, the Creator, nailed to the cross, he forgave us.  He knows our hearts better than we know ourselves.  I've been struggling with forgiveness...when I remember His prayer from the cross, it helps me to forgive.

The Annunciation

The moment when God began his descent to humanity, so that we could be lifted up out of our despair and sinfulness.  Our faithful mother is so beautiful in her gentleness and love of God.

"Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin any more."

St. John 8:1-11 "Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area, and all the people started coming to him, and he sat down and taught them.

Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand in the middle.

They said to him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery.

Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?"

They said this to test him, so that they could have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger.

But when they continued asking him, he straightened up and said to them, "Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her."

Again he bent down and wrote on the ground.

And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders. So he was left alone with the woman before him.

Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"

She replied, "No one, sir." Then Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go, (and) from now on do not sin any more."

Sin no more

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 5:1

There was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 
Now there is in Jerusalem at the Sheep (Gate) a pool called in Hebrew Bethesda, with five porticoes.
In these lay a large number of ill, blind, lame, and crippled.

One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. 
When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been ill for a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be well?" 
The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; while I am on my way, someone else gets down there before me." 
Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your mat, and walk." 
Immediately the man became well, took up his mat, and walked. Now that day was a sabbath. 
So the Jews said to the man who was cured, "It is the sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to carry your mat." 
He answered them, "The man who made me well told me, 'Take up your mat and walk.'" 
They asked him, "Who is the man who told you, 'Take it up and walk'?" 
The man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away, since there was a crowd there. 
After this Jesus found him in the temple area and said to him, "Look, you are well; do not sin any more, so that nothing worse may happen to you."
The man went and told the Jews that Jesus was the one who had made him well. 
Therefore, the Jews began to persecute Jesus because he did this on a sabbath. 

Your son will live

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 4:43
"At that time Jesus left [Samaria] for Galilee. 
For Jesus himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his native place.
When he came into Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, since they had seen all he had done in Jerusalem at the feast; for they themselves had gone to the feast. 
Then he returned to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. Now there was a royal official whose son was ill in Capernaum.
When he heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, who was near death. 
Jesus said to him, "Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe." 
The royal official said to him, "Sir, come down before my child dies." 
Jesus said to him, "You may go; your son will live." The man believed what Jesus said to him and left. 
While he was on his way back, his slaves met him and told him that his boy would live.
He asked them when he began to recover. They told him, "The fever left him yesterday, about one in the afternoon." 
The father realized that just at that time Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live," and he and his whole household came to believe. 
(Now) this was the second sign Jesus did when he came to Galilee from Judea."

How many times have we felt that a situation was hopeless, and then were thrilled and surprised when the outcome was positive.  Did we remember to thank God for answering our prayers or did we forget and assume that it was meant to work out anyway?  The official in this story remembered, but more importantly, he believed when Jesus told him his son would live.  Even though he couldn't see it because he wasn't there, he believed.

We need to remember that God is working things out for us and answering our prayers, even though we may not see what's going on behind the scenes. We still need to believe, without seeing the signs and wonders.

Catholics Come Home

On EWTN this evening, I saw an episode of Catholics Come Home which featured a woman who was raised Catholic but left the faith while at college, eventually becoming an atheist.  After 52 years, she was moved by the Holy Spirit through a series of seemingly coincidental, random events, to return to her faith.  She found catholicscomehome.org and returned to God, and to the church.  It was beautiful to listen to her describe going to confession and receiving the Lord in the Eucharist after 52 years!  The parable of the prodigal son came to mind and I felt the joy that the father in the parable felt when he saw his son returning, even though I don't know this woman.  Still, for some reason, it moved me to hear this beautiful story of her return after so many years.  The Lord's happiness is unmeasurable though when a lost sheep returns.

He never gives up searching for us, calling our names, beckoning to us.  He loves us, each and every one of us, perfectly, and completely.  The series of "coincidences" that led this woman back was remarkable also.  Who knows?  She may have been receiving these cues since the day she became an atheist, but she never noticed them because her heart was too hardened.  It's easy and it happens to every one.  We can become despondent, consumed by daily tasks, or just spiritually disconnected from the Holy Spirit and our hearts aren't open to noticing.  It's always a great feeling when one of these "coincidences" happens to me.  I've begun saying "Thank you, God, I know that was You!" when they occur now.

God bless you.

Mary's 10 Principal Virtues

St. Louis-Marie de Montfort's
Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary

108. Third, true devotion to our Lady is holy, that is, it leads us to avoid sin and to imitate the virtues of Mary. Her ten principal virtues are: deep humility, lively faith, blind obedience, unceasing prayer, constant self-denial, surpassing purity, ardent love, heroic patience, angelic kindness, and heavenly wisdom. 

Faithfully persistent in prayer

"Then Jesus went from that place and withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon. But he did not say a word in answer to her. His disciples came and asked him, “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.” He said in reply, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But the woman came and did him homage, saying, “Lord, help me.” He said in reply, “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” Then Jesus said to her in reply, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed from that hour."  Matthew 15:21-28.

The woman had great faith that Jesus could save her daughter and approached the Lord with humility and love for the sake of love.  She didn't give up asking the Lord for help in order to save her daughter.  How far would we go for love?  Are we faithfully persistent in our prayers?

"O woman, great is your faith!", the Lord lovingly exclaims!  I pray that your faith and mine is always strong.  God bless you.

Trust

Acceptance and trust in God are what the Holy Mother teaches us.  Sometimes we all encounter difficulties, disappointments, and heartache.  Those are the times we need to pray harder.  Share our grief with God.  Ask for His help.  Don't lose heart.  Don't lose hope.

Passion of the Christ

Yesterday, I watched this heartbreaking film again for the first time in several years.  Quite possibly the most beautiful film ever made.  The greatest love story ever.  God came down from heaven to dwell among us, teach us, comfort us, heal us, show us the way to eternal life, and to show us how much He loves us.

In the film, when Jesus, scourged, battered, and exhausted, meets his mother, he says to her, "See, mother, I make all things new."  Indeed.  He makes all things new.  We'll never be the same again.  Humanity will never be the same again. 

I did the Stations of the Cross on Friday for the first time since I was little.  That's what prompted me to watch the film again yesterday.  The entire movie is heart wrenching right up until the last few minutes.  Then, in an instant, at the Resurrection, all that sorrow and heartache vanishes.  How much more profoundly must have the disciples felt that joy when they saw Jesus.  What joy Mary Magdalen must have felt when she saw Him.  

During this Lenten season, and beyond, let's all strive to remain in a state of grace.  Let's pray for protection from mortal sin.  Also, let's pray for our innocent brothers and sisters paying the ultimate price for their belief in the truth that Jesus Christ is the one true God.  I will pray for you, also.  God bless you.