If I were to give you an option of
choosing between two gifts, what would be your choice? Freely handing you over 5 million dollars or
promising to pray a Rosary for you and your salvation. I asked this question in church, and there
was a long time of silence, hesitancy!!!! Wow! Most people would blurt
out: “I will take the money and run!”
Others, more astute in their mental perspective would respond: “Both!”
However, those who would respond, “Father, pray the Rosary for me,”
these would be those manifesting the Gift of the Holy Spirit of Knowledge—
knowing really what is most important in life: grace, sanctification of my
soul, and my eternal salvation.
choosing between two gifts, what would be your choice? Freely handing you over 5 million dollars or
promising to pray a Rosary for you and your salvation. I asked this question in church, and there
was a long time of silence, hesitancy!!!! Wow! Most people would blurt
out: “I will take the money and run!”
Others, more astute in their mental perspective would respond: “Both!”
However, those who would respond, “Father, pray the Rosary for me,”
these would be those manifesting the Gift of the Holy Spirit of Knowledge—
knowing really what is most important in life: grace, sanctification of my
soul, and my eternal salvation.
What is grace? Father John Hardon, in Pocket Dictionary( page 166), offers us a concise and clear
definition of “Grace”. “Grace is the
supernatural gift that God, of his free benevolence, bestows on rational
creatures for their eternal salvation.” Adrian Rogers coined a pithy and easy to
memorize acronym for grace. G= God’s R= Riches A= At C=Christ’s E= Expense! Excellent! Another catechetical definition for
you: “Grace is the participation in the life of God, and that which makes us pleasing to God.”
definition of “Grace”. “Grace is the
supernatural gift that God, of his free benevolence, bestows on rational
creatures for their eternal salvation.” Adrian Rogers coined a pithy and easy to
memorize acronym for grace. G= God’s R= Riches A= At C=Christ’s E= Expense! Excellent! Another catechetical definition for
you: “Grace is the participation in the life of God, and that which makes us pleasing to God.”
Grace has unspeakable value, such
that our eternal salvation depends precisely on grace. If we receive grace
freely, respond generously to grace, preserve and grow in grace and finally end
our lives dying in the state of grace, then we will go to heaven and be with
God for all eternity! Therefore, let us
launch into ways to tap into the spiritual current of electricity and hope that
our spiritual “Gas-tanks” will be “F”—“Full” or at least close to full!
that our eternal salvation depends precisely on grace. If we receive grace
freely, respond generously to grace, preserve and grow in grace and finally end
our lives dying in the state of grace, then we will go to heaven and be with
God for all eternity! Therefore, let us
launch into ways to tap into the spiritual current of electricity and hope that
our spiritual “Gas-tanks” will be “F”—“Full” or at least close to full!
1.PRAYER! Any sincere, humble, prayer that issues forth
from a pure heart is very pleasing to God and He Himself awards such a soul
with an increase in sanctifying grace! Prayer is the key that opens the gates
of heaven, the very breath of our souls, a sure means to attain grace and maintain
ourselves in God’s Friendship!
from a pure heart is very pleasing to God and He Himself awards such a soul
with an increase in sanctifying grace! Prayer is the key that opens the gates
of heaven, the very breath of our souls, a sure means to attain grace and maintain
ourselves in God’s Friendship!
2. CHARITY. A major difference between Protestants and
Catholics is the whole concept of active-charity. Many Protestants maintain that faith and
faith alone saves. Not so for
Catholics! Faith precedes charity, because
we cannot love what we do not know. However, charity is the queen of all
virtues. (St. Thomas Aquinas). Therefore, every action done towards another,
moved by supernatural love (charity) merits an increase in grace. Read and meditate Mt.25. “Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers
that you do to me.” We should always be looking for opportunities to practice
charity; however, it is good to remember that charity begins at home!
Catholics is the whole concept of active-charity. Many Protestants maintain that faith and
faith alone saves. Not so for
Catholics! Faith precedes charity, because
we cannot love what we do not know. However, charity is the queen of all
virtues. (St. Thomas Aquinas). Therefore, every action done towards another,
moved by supernatural love (charity) merits an increase in grace. Read and meditate Mt.25. “Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers
that you do to me.” We should always be looking for opportunities to practice
charity; however, it is good to remember that charity begins at home!
3. PENANCE/SACRIFICES. Our Lady of Fatima, expressed with great
sorrow, that many souls are lost because nobody prays for them or offers sacrifices for them. The key is not
the greatness of the exterior action but rather the greatness of the love in
the heart of the individual. Remember the spiritual maxim: “Holiness depends on doing the ordinary things of our daily life with extraordinary love.” This was the essence of the spirituality of St Therese of Lisieux, known today throughout
the world as “The Little Way”. Rising from bed immediately, giving up an extra cookie, denying oneself salt on his
meat, praying an extra 90 seconds, smiling when you do not feel like it— all
of these are small sacrifices in the eyes of the world, but can have great
value before the eyes of God and attain for us choice blessings and GRACES!!!!
sorrow, that many souls are lost because nobody prays for them or offers sacrifices for them. The key is not
the greatness of the exterior action but rather the greatness of the love in
the heart of the individual. Remember the spiritual maxim: “Holiness depends on doing the ordinary things of our daily life with extraordinary love.” This was the essence of the spirituality of St Therese of Lisieux, known today throughout
the world as “The Little Way”. Rising from bed immediately, giving up an extra cookie, denying oneself salt on his
meat, praying an extra 90 seconds, smiling when you do not feel like it— all
of these are small sacrifices in the eyes of the world, but can have great
value before the eyes of God and attain for us choice blessings and GRACES!!!!
4. HOLY MASS, HOLY COMMUNION, HOLINESS AND GRACE TO THE MAX! By far
the most efficacious means to grow in grace is the well-prepared, humble and
confident reception of the greatest of all Sacraments, the Most Holy Eucharist,
which is truly the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ. The other means mentioned are
great and highly to be encouraged. However, the frequent, faith-filled, fervent
and fiery reception of the Eucharist is “Light years” difference in the
abundance of graces that can be received! The other means is like a rain-fall
upon the soul; Holy Communion is like an entire OCEAN descending in the soul!
However, a very important clarification is necessary: the concept of the grace of
disposition! This means, the better the preparation for Communion, interior disposition of the soul, humility and
purity of heart as well as hunger for Jesus the “Bread of Life” the more abundant
the graces! “As the deer yearns for the running waters, so my soul longs for you, O Lord my God.” It has been said that
one Holy Communion could transform us into saints! The fault is not in the Sacrament, but
rather in the faulty recipient of the Sacrament! Let us beg Mary, “Full of
grace” to help us to dispose our hearts to receive Jesus on a daily basis with burning hearts!
the most efficacious means to grow in grace is the well-prepared, humble and
confident reception of the greatest of all Sacraments, the Most Holy Eucharist,
which is truly the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ. The other means mentioned are
great and highly to be encouraged. However, the frequent, faith-filled, fervent
and fiery reception of the Eucharist is “Light years” difference in the
abundance of graces that can be received! The other means is like a rain-fall
upon the soul; Holy Communion is like an entire OCEAN descending in the soul!
However, a very important clarification is necessary: the concept of the grace of
disposition! This means, the better the preparation for Communion, interior disposition of the soul, humility and
purity of heart as well as hunger for Jesus the “Bread of Life” the more abundant
the graces! “As the deer yearns for the running waters, so my soul longs for you, O Lord my God.” It has been said that
one Holy Communion could transform us into saints! The fault is not in the Sacrament, but
rather in the faulty recipient of the Sacrament! Let us beg Mary, “Full of
grace” to help us to dispose our hearts to receive Jesus on a daily basis with burning hearts!
5. MARY, THE “FULL OF GRACE”. In the Annunciation Mary is greeted as “Full
of grace”. Indeed, of all women she can intercede for us and help us to augment
grace in our souls by turning to her. In what way? A short story! St. Gertrude the Great, a great saint, writer
and visionary, saw Jesus in heaven placing a shiny, glimmering, golden coin on
the top of a huge pile of other golden coins. The saint asked Jesus what this
meant! Jesus, on placing another Golden coin on top of the pile said that every
time she (St. Gertrude) prayed a Hail Mary with faith and devotion, then He was
placing another Golden coin in heaven for her for all eternity! Therefore, if you want to be a “Spiritual millionaire”
turn to Mary, “The full of grace” and pray at least fifty times a day, the Hail
Mary! That being done, you will have a treasure in heaven.
of grace”. Indeed, of all women she can intercede for us and help us to augment
grace in our souls by turning to her. In what way? A short story! St. Gertrude the Great, a great saint, writer
and visionary, saw Jesus in heaven placing a shiny, glimmering, golden coin on
the top of a huge pile of other golden coins. The saint asked Jesus what this
meant! Jesus, on placing another Golden coin on top of the pile said that every
time she (St. Gertrude) prayed a Hail Mary with faith and devotion, then He was
placing another Golden coin in heaven for her for all eternity! Therefore, if you want to be a “Spiritual millionaire”
turn to Mary, “The full of grace” and pray at least fifty times a day, the Hail
Mary! That being done, you will have a treasure in heaven.
Jesus warned us not to store up treasures that moth can eat and thieves can steal. Rather, we should store up
eternal treasures in heaven—that is to say, GRACE! Participation in God’s life
in our souls! Let us strive to preserve grace, grow in grace, use the means to
fortify grace in our souls and die in grace so as to attain heaven for all
eternity. “Hail Mary, full of grace…pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of death. Amen!
eternal treasures in heaven—that is to say, GRACE! Participation in God’s life
in our souls! Let us strive to preserve grace, grow in grace, use the means to
fortify grace in our souls and die in grace so as to attain heaven for all
eternity. “Hail Mary, full of grace…pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of death. Amen!
