Fr. Ed Broom, OMV Oblates of the Virgin Mary

Catholic Ignatian Marian Spirituality

CONFESSION: RETURN TO GOD’S MERCY!

The first Synod convoked by Blessed John Paul II was on the topic of Reconciliation, confession and the topic of sin. His predecessor, Pope Pius XII coined this immortal phrase, “The sin of the century is the loss of the sense of sin.”

From this Synod Pope John Paul II’s Apostolic Exhortation was promulgated with the title:  “Reconciliation and Penance”.  In this spiritual masterpiece John Paul the Great spoke about the reality of sin, the many effects of sin, as well as the need to trust in God’s mercy and return to God through the Sacrament of Mercy, or the Sacrament of Confession.
The second Encyclical of the same Pope, John Paul II, was precisely on this same topic, “Dives Misericordia”—that is to say, “God rich in mercy”.  In this monumental document in which the Holy Father  offers a magisterial exposition of God’s mercy, he explains the meaning of the Parable of the Prodigal Son, also can be called, “The Parable of the merciful Father”.
Both the encyclical and the Apostolic Exhortation have the same theme: sin does exist and all of us are sinners, but at the same time there is a remedy for sin and it is Jesus who comes to heal us, strengthen us and save us and, in a special way, through the Sacraments, but  healing of sin specifically through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan wrote a wonderful pastoral letter welcoming Catholics back to church through returning to Holy Mass.   A later pastoral letter written by Cardinal Timothy Dolan was “From the altar to the confessional”.  Interesting enough, the title was taken from the killing of two priests in Iraq in the church where two priests were serving God. One was celebrating Holy Mass and the other was ministering to the people in the Confessional. Both were murdered— martyred—in their line of duty, nourishing their flock with the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus and the other reconciling the flock to the Father through the Sacrament of His mercy!
In this pastoral letter, the Cardinal comments with wit and humor but realism, the reality in many churches through the country the following incident.  A priest is transferred to a new parish and assiduously strives to offer the Sacrament of Confession to the faithful. After months of patiently waiting for penitents, not one entered his confessional.  The priest petitioned the Bishop for a transfer; the reason being: he wanted to be in a parish where he would have some contact with “sinners”.
Unfortunately, this is not an isolated event!  In many parishes, the lines to receive Jesus in Holy Communion are interminable. However, the lines for confession are all but nonexistent!    Saturday afternoon, the priest in the confessional may hear only three confessions: the scrupulous sacristan three times!
This being said, it is up to Pastors, priests, and catechists, as well as parents—the first teachers of their children—to make a concerted effort to work on the proper formation of the conscience of the parishioners as well as the children entrusted to their care and their eternal salvation!
This short exposition will be on the many fruits that can be derived from preparing oneself well to receive the Sacrament of Confession. 
Remember the importance of the basic Sacramental truth: the dispositive grace/grace of disposition. In brief, the graces we receive in the sacraments are in direct proportion to our preparation.  In other words, the better the preparation is prior to receiving the Sacrament, the more abundant the downpour of graces!  The fault is not in the Sacrament, but rather in the recipient of the Sacrament!
Before enumerating the multiple blessings that flow from the Sacrament of Confession we should all cultivate an attitude of gratitude for our catholic faith, good priests that are available to dispense these wonderful channels of grace, and for the life that God has given to each and every one of us and our call to live it to the fullest extent possible!  Jesus said that He came to give us life and to give it in abundance!
EFFECTS/FRUITS OF A WELL-DONE CONFESSION!
1.     FROM LIFE TO DEATH.   Confession can be compared to a “Lazarus experience!”  Lazarus was dead and in the tomb for four long days. Jesus came and summoned them to remove the stone and then in a loud voice called out: “Lazarus come out!”  The dead man walked out of the tomb; the bandages were removed and he was returned to his sisters!   In a well- made confession,  those dead in mortal sin, leave the dark and musty cave of mortal sin, leave the bandages of sin clinging to them and experience freedom—the freedom of the sons  of God!
2.    PASCHAL MYSTERY RELIVED.   Confession is tapping in to the key event of our salvation: the Paschal Mystery. That is to say, Jesus suffered, died, was buried and on the third day, he rose from the dead.  Confession, parallel to the Paschal Mystery, is a true dying to sin, a rising to new life.  The graces that Jesus acquired  from  the Paschal event are applied to the soul of the repentant sinner!
3.     SANCTIFYING GRACE RESTORED.      Through the commission of mortal sin, sanctifying grace is lost— this means, God’s Friendship has been lost. However, through sacramental confession, the soul once again is infused with the live-giving gift of sanctifying grace.
4.    FRIENDSHIP WITH JESUS.            Then this great gift of deep “Friendship” with Jesus is restored!  Jesus called the Apostles His “friends” and He wants to call you and me His “Friend” in time and in eternity! Jesus is the Friend who is always faithful and will never fail us; if we fail Him, He is always awaiting our return, like the Father of the Prodigal Son, with His arms and heart always open to receive us!
5.    INCREASE IN SANCTIFYING GRACE.    The car tank on low with gas will end up stranded on the Freeway!  Low on “spiritual gasoline— namely grace, it is much easier to fall once again into mortal sin and to lose God’s Friendship. Therefore, it should be our constant effort to strive to keep growing in sanctifying grace—this comes about principally by frequent and well-received sacramental lives!   Keep the tank always on “Full!”
This is the best policy and philosophy of life!
6.    HUMILITY.      Three of the foundational virtues on which the spiritual edifice of sanctity must be constructed are charity, purity and the virtue of humility!   To examine one’s conscience, to see one’s sin—with the utmost clarity, to confess one’s sin without any justification—all of this demands the grace of God, but also great humility.  However, Jesus loves those of humble heart.  In the Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican, the Pharisee praised himself for all the good he did and how holy he was; on the contrary, the Publican, failed to raise his eyes and beat his breast calling himself the sinner.  Of the two, it was the humility of the Publican that won the heart of God. Confession helps us to grow in humility, a virtue that Jesus cherished so dearly that He Himself said: “Come to me, because I am meek and humble of heart…”  (Mt. 11:28-30)
7.     SELF-KNOWLEDGE.    The philosopher stated, “The life that is not examined is a life not worth living!”  A famous historian added, “He who does not know history is condemned to repeat the same errors.” Shakespeare wrote Histories, Comedies and Tragedies.  We all have the comical side to our lives; we have our personal history.   Still, hard though it may be to admit, we all have our tragedies.   My “tragedy” and your “tragedy” is our own past life of sin!  Frequent Confession can serve as a sure remedy to overcome ignorance as to our dignity as sons and daughters of God, but at the same time our need for God’s mercy as we are sinners from birth till the grave!
8.    PRECIOUS BLOOD OF JESUS ON CALVARY.     On Calvary, that 1st Good Friday, Jesus shed His Precious Blood for the salvation of all of humanity, but for you and me in particular.  Therefore, when the Sacrament of Confession is well-prepared and well-received, the Precious Blood of Jesus descends upon the soul and is washed clean.  As the prophet so clearly states: “Though your sins be like scarlet, they will be made as white as the snow.”
9.     PEACE OF SOUL.   Why is it that the world is rocked with wars, from East to West, from North to South?  Archbishop Fulton Sheen asserts that World wars are simply the result of many small wars raging in the hearts of many individuals and these — once accumulated—terminate in the atomic bomb!  A soul living in sin is a soul not at peace, but living a restless, listless, agitated, unstable, existence!  In other words, sin is hell on earth!   One cannot live with a guilty conscience.  Shakespeare depicts this idea in a masterful way with Lady Macbeth who could not live with the reality of murder on her conscience.  Constantly, Lady Macbeth is portrayed washing her hands, trying to absolve her guilt. All the water from all the oceans in the world could not wash her guilt! Only the Blood of Jesus!  For this reason Shakespeare stated: “Conscience does make cowards of all of us.”  In the quiet of the room the conscience returns to haunt!  Confession frees the soul of sin and peace is restored.  This interior peace is worth more than all the money in the world!
10. CLEAN CONSCIENCE.      Related to peace of soul, is that of a clean conscience.  A bad conscience is hell on earth!  For that reason many try to run away from their conscience because the pain and reality of a bad conscience is too painful. Consequently, having recourse to drink, drugs, porn, and other addictions often is directly related to a dirty conscience, a conscience that is not at peace!  The Poet Francis Thompson creates the image of the “Hound of Heaven”, ardently pursuing the wandering soul and conscience, beckoning this soul to return to God and forsake his sinful lifestyle and thereby achieve peace of soul and a clean conscience.
Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, for His  mercy  endures forever. Years ago a study was done and the article came out in Reader’s Digest on suicide.  The study showed that Catholics had much less numbers of suicides than Protestants and the primary reason was due to the existence and practice of the Sacrament of Confession among Catholics.   Having the opportunity to unload ones’ problems to another and to have those sins forgiven, guilt resolved is an infinite source of peace and joy and health for body, mind and soul.   Seeking true peace? Why not try confession!
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THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS ++++++++

              The Stations of the Cross is a book of the love of God for each and every one of us.  In it we can find all the virtues that we need to practice to arrive at perfection and to attain eternal life.  Let us briefly go through the Stations prayerfully and allow the Spirt of God to move us to love and imitation of Jesus.
WE ADORE YOU O CHRIST AND WE BLESS YOU, BECAUSE BY YOUR HOLY CROSS YOUS HAVE REDEEMED THE WORLD.

 

I.                JESUS IS CONDEMNED TO DEATH

1.     Innocent people today are condemned to death, especially the innocent babies in the wombs of their mothers.  Do you defend life? Have you been absorbed by the “Culture of death” mentality.
2.     Do you judge and condemn people in your life.  Jesus says, “Judge not lest you yourself be judged.”
3.     PONTIUS PILATE.  Is there some of Pontius Pilate in you.  He was a “People-pleaser” more than a  “God-pleaser”.  Do you do things for the honor and glory of God or for your honor and glory: vanity and Pride?
4.     PILATE.  He was a coward. Are you afraid to speak up and live the truth, despite possible criticism?
5.     Are you a relativist? “What is the truth?”  Do you humbly abide by all the truths taught by the Catholic Church?
6.     Have you ever been falsely accused? How did you take it?
7.     Have you ever falsely-accused anyone else?

II.             JESUS CARRIES HIS CROSS++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

1.      What is your cross/crosses?

 

2.     Do you recognize them as gifts from God?

 

3.     How do you carry your cross?

 

4.     Do you complain about the cross that God has given you?

 

5.     Are you aware that others have crosses, maybe heavier than yours?

 

6.     Do you unite your cross to the cross of Jesus?

 

7.     Do you see value in the cross?

 

8.     Does suffering have value for you and in the eyes of God?

 

9.     Do you understand the cross related to the Glory?

 

10.  Do you run away from the cross?

III.           JESUS FALLS THE FIRST TIME

1.     When do you fall into sin?
2.     Why do you fall into that sin
3.     Are you trying not to fall into that sin?
4.     Are you using means to avoid falling into that sin?
5.     Do you know the root causes of your falls?

 

IV.            JESUS MEETS HIS SORROWFUL MOTHER

 

1.      Who is Mary for you?
2.     Do you share your crosses with the Blessed Mother?
3.     What do you think went on in the Heart of Mary in this encounter?’
4.     Do you have compassion on the suffering people of the world?
5.     Have you ever felt helpless in certain circumstances of your life?
6.     Do you turn to Mary in temptations, struggles and stress?

 

 

V.              SIMON OF CIRENE HELPS JESUS TO CARRY THE CROSS

 

1.      Do you help people to carry their crosses?
2.     Are you a Good Samaritan on the highway of life?
3.     Are you a Simon of Cirene?
4.     Do you make your neighbor’s cross eve heavier? Why?
5.      Who is the person that God is asking you to help now?
6.     Who has been the Simon’s who have entered in your life?
7.     Have you thanked God for these many good people that God has sent to help you to be where you are now? Are you grateful?
8.     Do you resist or hold off din the good that God wants you to do?

 

VI.            VERONICA WIPES THE FACE OF JESUS

 

1.      Do you car about other people?
2.     Are you at times selfish?
3.     Are you aware of the Face of Jesus present in your soul thru grace?
4.     Have you disfigured the Face of Jesus in your soul through sin?
5.     Have you crowned Him with thorns in your soul?
6.     Are you afraid to look in the face of Jesus? Why? What have you done?
7.     Peter looked into the eyes of Jesus and began his conversion?
8.     Do you long to see the Face of God in heaven? Really? How much?
9.     Do you encourage Infant Baptism so as to have the face of Jesus in their hearts as soon as possible?
10.  Do you try to avoid sin so as to retain the beauty of the face of God in your soul?

 

VII.  JESUS FALLS THE SECOND TIME++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

1.      When you fall do you get up right away?

 

2.     Do you get discouraged and depressed after your fall?

 

3.     Do you really trust in the mercy of God?

 

4.     Do you believe in the mercy of God

 

5.     Have you made other people fall into sin by your bad example?

 

6.     Have you made amends to help them to  get up?

 

 

 

VII.         THE WOMEN OF JERUSALEM WEEP OVER JESUS

 

1.      He you wept for your sins?

 

2.     Have you wept or the sins of your children?

 

3.     Have you wept for the sins of your nation?

 

Have you wept for the sins of your relatives?

 

4.     Are your tears crocodile tears or real tears of sorrow and repentance?

 

5.     Do you weep with those who weep?

 

6.     Are you able to share in the sorrows of others?

 

7.     What does the Beatitude, “Blest are those who weep, they shall be consoled” mean to you

 

 

VIII.      JESUS FALLS THE THIRD TIME

 

1.                What can you do to avoid the near occasion of sin?

 

2.               Do you sin when you are tired and frustrated?

 

3.               How can you better cope with weariness?

 

4.               Will God always forgive us?

 

5.               Why do you refuse to get up right away after your fall?

 

6.               Do you pray for sinners that they will get up and turn to god for mercy? Are you concerned for the salvation of the world?

 

 

X. JESUS IS STRIPPED OF HIS GARMENTS

 

1.      Are you aware of the stripping of Jesus as related to the sins against purity?

 

2.     Are you sorry for your sins against purity?

 

3.     Have you repented of them?

 

4.     Are you avoiding bad movies? Bad shows” Bad magazines?

 

5.     Are you associating with someone who might place in danger the virtue of purity?

 

6.     Do you dress modestly at all times?

 

7.     Do you speak and act with modesty and decency?

 

8.     What about your speech?

 

9.     Are you striving for greater purity of heart, mind, body, soul and intention?

 

10.  What does the beatitude, “Blest are the pure of heart, for they shall see God”, mean to you?

 

 

XI. JESUS IS NAILED TO THE CROSS

 

1.      Try to imagine the nails going thru His hands.

 

2.     The nails going thru His feet?

 

3.     Are you aware that your sins and mine were the nails that pierced the hands and feet of Our Lord and savior Jesus Christ?

 

4.     Are people nailing Jesus to the cross even today? How”

 

5.     Are you responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus? How?

 

6.      What do you think was the greatest pain in the crucifixion of Jesus?

 

7.     Are there other Jesus’ being crucified even today in our world? Who are these?

 

 

XII. JESUS IS RAISED UPON THE CROSS, AND DIES

 

1.      Jesus spoke 7 times on the cross. Which “word” strikes you most?

 

2.     Imagine the Blood of Jesus trickling down to the ground. Do you realize that that Precious Blood was shed for you?

 

3.     What do you think were the sentiments of the heart of Jesus as He hung upon the cross?

 

4.     Can you identify with one of the thieves?

 

5.     What went on in the heart of St. John as he stood beneath the cross?

 

6.     What about the Magdalene?

 

7.     What was the attitude of the soldiers who threw dice for the garments of Jesus?

 

8.     What about the crowd?

 

9.     What do you think happened to the centurion under the cross?

 

10.  Can you enter into the Sorrowful Heart of Mary in this moment? How did she feel?

 

11.  How would you like to die?

 

12.  Have you prayed for the grace of a happy death?

 

13.   Would you be ready to die to meet your maker now?

 

14.  Why Not?????????????????????? Why Not???????????????????

 

15.  Do we know when we are going to die? Why put off conversion?

 

 

XIII. JESUS IS TAKEN DOWN FROM THE CROSS AND PLACED IN THE ARMS OF HIS BLESSED MOTHER

 

1.      They took the nails out of the hands of Jesus? Can you take those nails out, too? How can this be done?

 

2.     Do you treat the Body of Jesus with respect in Holy Communion?

 

3.     What went on in the heart of Mary now?

 

4.     Can you imagine the bruised. Blood, wounded body of  Jesus?

 

5.     How do you receive Jesus into your heart?

 

6.     Look at the wounds of  Jesus. Are you wounded? Do you bring your wounds to Jesus to be healed by his wounds?

 

7.     What does the saying from Isaiah mean,  “By His wounds we are healed”

 

8.     Do you take your neighbor down from the cross or keep him up on the cross?

 

 

XIV.       JESUS IS LAID IN THE TOMB

 

1 Why did Jesus die?

 

9.     Why was Jesus buried?

 

10.  You will die and be buried. What does that mean to you?

 

11.  How would you like to die?

 

12.  Are you ready to die?

 

13.  Mortal sin is death. What does that mean?

 

14.  What does this phrase mean, “Bury my sins O Lord with you in the tomb?”

 

15.  What went on in the heart of Mary as they buried her son and they rolled the stone to the tomb?

 

16.  How do funerals, burials, cemeteries effect you? Do they speak to you about spiritual realities?

 

17.  Do you ever meditate upon the 4 LAST THINGS: DEATH, JUDGEMENT, HEAVEN AND HELL?  How often?

 

18.  If death is so evident from the news, movies, and just life, why do people avoid thinking about death?

 

19.   Do you want to bury your sins in the Infinite Ocean of God’s mercy?

 

CONCLUSION:  To meditate in depth the Passion, suffering and death of Jesus is one of the most powerful means to understand the depth, width height and enormity of the love that God has for each and every one of us.   NO GREATER LOVE HAS A MAN THAN THAT HE LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS.
If  Jesus has love me so much, what am I willing to give and suffer for Him?Love is measured by the willingness to suffer for the loved one.

 

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PASSION: Appreciating the Passion of Jesus.

One of the secrets of the saints is finding ways to grow to love Jesus Christ.  Meditation on the word of God is essential.  Listen to the words of Psalm 1  “Happy are those who  do not follow the counsel of the wicked, Nor go the way of sinners, nor sit in the company of scoffers.  Rather, the law of the Lord is their joy; God’s law they study day and night.”   (Psalm 1:1-2).

However, the meditation of the Passion, suffering and death that Jesus underwent on Good Friday,  can produce the most profound impact on our life, especially realizing that He suffered the most bitter pains and agony, not simply to save humanity as a whole, but to save you and me individually!  How extraordinary is God’s love!
This being the case, we will offer a wide variety of sources that you can delve into, immersing your mind, imagination, memory and heart into the depths of the Passion of Jesus.   With St. Francis of Assisi, who loved Jesus so much that he was willing to accept in his mortal body the wounds of Jesus called the “Stigmata”, let us pray this saint’s famous prayer, a prayer we say  when we make the Way of the cross, moving from one station to the next:  “We adore you,  O Christ and we bless you because by your cross you have redeemed the world.”  Prayerfully read through these ways to enter into the Passion of Christ and choose whatever way the Holy Spirit speaks to your heart!
 1.     Read through the Passion accounts in the Gospels.  Get to know the Biblical data; note some of the differences according to the different Gospels.  Where to be found?  The following chapters:  Mt. 26-27, Mk. 14-15, Lk. 22-23, Jn. 18-19.
2.     ROSARY.   Contemplate the Sorrowful mysteries, but with much greater attention to the details in the passion.
3.     WAY OF THE CROSS.  Do it as a prayer; there are various ways, collectively, in a group,  Friday in the Parish.   Can be done privately with a guide/booklet. Finally, can go from one station to the next  and contemplate the stain-glass windows.  You can offer your own intentions.  Jesus encouraged St. Faustina to do the Way of the Cross every day at the mercy hour—3:00 p.m.  Both Pope JPII and Ben. 16th did the Way of the cross in the Coliseum on Good Friday.

4.     CROSS/JESUS CRUCIFIED.   In silence, contemplate this, the greatest symbol of love on earth.

 

5.     The 7 Last words: try to memorize and to meditate on the 7 last words that Jesus uttered on the cross.
6.     The 7 Sorrows of Mary.  Invite Mary to help you to live out the Passion of her son with fervor and intensity.

7.     GIBSON FILM.   View it not so much as a Hollywood rendition, but rather as a contemplative prayer.  Note the scenes that touched you most and use theme as scenes that can be used in your meditation.

8.    THE MOVIE:MIRACLE OF MARCELLINUS.   The same!  Note the wonderful colloquy between the little boy and Jesus!   This should be a model and stimulus for us in our personal prayer life.

 

9.     READINGS: Emmerik:  The Dolorous Passion of Jesus.  Gibson took many of his ideas in the film from this secondary source.  She is “Blessed”.  Therefore, it is a very reliable source!

 

10.  VICTIM SOULS:  Padre Pio, St. Therese, Little Jacinta, Blessed Alexandrina Acosta.   All of us are called to a “limited degree” to unite our sufferings to Christ for the redemption of the world!  Sheen defines a priest as, “The victim who offers the “VICTIM”.

 

11. MASS!   Go deeper into your understanding of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, as a reliving of the Sacrifice of Calvary!

 

12.  FASTING!  Remember the value of “Fasting” and personal penance in Lent, but especially on Good Friday!

 

13.  IGNATIAN  REASONS FOR THE PASSION!  Call to mind! Remember why Jesus suffered and died on the cross!  To show us the gravity of sin, but even more, to show us the greatness of the love of God, and the personal love that God has for every one of us individually! He died for all of humanity, but at the same time, He died for all of us individually!
14.  CONFESSION & GOOD FRIDAY.  Pope Blessed  John Paul II had the habit of going into the confessional and hearing confessions on this day. Why?  Sacramental connection—the death of Jesus on the cross and the personal call for all of us to die to sin in our lives.  This is one of the primary focuses of living out fully the season of Lent!                                                   
15.PASCHAL MYSTERY.   The cross(Good Friday) is part of the Paschal Mystery.  The fullness of it is that Jesus died, but also that He rose from the dead on Easter Sunday!
16.  SIGN OF THE CROSS.   Renew fervor when you make the sign of the cross.  It teaches us two essential mysteries: The Blessed Trinity and the mystery of the cross as the means Jesus chose to save our souls for all eternity!

17. LITURGY OF GOOD FRIDAY.   Enter into this simple but profound Liturgy of Good Friday.  There are three separate parts:  Reading of the Passion of Christ—very similar to Palm Sunday, but the reading of a different Gospel; then the adoration of the Holy Cross; finally  Holy Communion to those who desire to receive!

18.  MY/YOUR CROSS! It might be a  very fruitful reflection: simply and humbly to look into your own life and see your past crosses and your present crosses.  See  how have you carried them in the past; then see the present crosses and see how you are carrying them now!   Do you try to carry the cross by yourself or do you invite Jesus to come with you and assist you in carrying your own cross?

19.   Do you add to the cross of others or do you try to alleviate the crosses of your brothers and sisters?  Try to be a Good Samaritan on the Highway of life; or better yet, a “Simon the Cyrene” always willing to help those who carry heavy crosses to be of assistance.

20.  IGNATIAN FRUIT: to beg for the grace to suffer with Christ, sorrow, tears, breaking…He went through His passion   for me!!!
21.STORIES RELATED TO THE CROSS:
a)     The field of crosses= Jesus gives the best cross for you, according to your ability and strength!

 

b)    The Cordoba cross!  Jesus’ hand became detached extending forgiveness and absolution to the weak sinner!

 

c)     The footsteps in the sand: In the most difficult moments there was only on footprint in the sand. Why? Because then Jesus was carrying you!

 

d)    Lenten sermon/Good Friday and “Lift up your cross”. A cross can be a human person. Often those who live with us. Love begins at home.

 

e)    Germany and the cross without any arms and legs!  The body on the cross fell off during a bombardment in World War II.  The creative priest, wrote and posted below the cross:  “I need your hands and legs to save the world.”

 

f)       Catechism and the boy that nailed Jesus to the cross.  Our sins are responsible for nailing Jesus to the cross.

 

g)    Nails in the wood and pulled out.  Our sins, even when forgiven, still leave remnants and vestiges.

 

In conclusion, use some of these specific means to enter into the greatest manifestation of love the world ever witnessed: the Suffering, Passion and death of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!  “No greater love has a man than to lay down his life for those he loves!”  This Jesus did for you and for me! Allow the triple question of St. Ignatius to move you to conversion:  “What have I done for Jesus? What am I doing for Jesus?  What will I do for Jesus?” Now is to the time act!
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JESUS CHRIST: THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF LIFE!

 

Why do we have Lent?  Advent?  Why are we called to give up things? Practice penance?  Give alms to the poor?  To spend more time in silence and prayer? Why do we go to confession and fight to give up sin?  The reason for all of these questions is the same: to fall in love with Jesus Christ, to follow Him more closely and to be with Him in heaven forever.  Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. What are some of  the most sublime virtues that Jesus practiced that we are called to imitate?

 

1.    HUMILITY!  One of the chief enemies of our spiritual life is PRIDE! This is self-love, self-importance, putting myself above others even God!  Jesus was humble.  He Himself said, “Come to me… I am meek and humble of heart!”  (Mt. 11:28-30)  Three  specific gestures of Jesus illustrates this: 1) His Incarnation, 2) His passion (suffering) and death, 3) His “Presence” in the Eucharist, often forgotten, abandoned, taken for granted, and even received unworthily.   How can we imitate Jesus in His humility? Pray!  Humble people are the greatest and their greatest position is where?  On their knees!  The Kings prostrated themselves before Jesus.  The children of Fatima prostrated themselves on the ground.  In the Garden, Jesus through Himself prostrate on the ground.   Another way to grow in humility: do not become impatient, angry, or irritated with others, especially members of your family, especially as Holy Week approaches.  Finally, when we are forgotten, cut off  on the road, interrupted, not taken into account— try to accept it with patience, humility and without anger.  Once Mother Teresa went to beg for bread at a store, and as she opened up her hand, someone spat into her hand! She said, “Thank you!  That was for me, but now give to my poor!”  What humility!
2.     OBEDIENCE.    Jesus said that His food was to do(obey) the will of His Father.  In the Our Father, He taught us to say,  “Thy will be done…”  In the Garden of Olives He said,  “Father not my will but your will be done.”  St. Paul to the Philippians describes Jesus as humbling Himself by becoming man and by being obedient to death and death on the cross..”(Phil 2) How can we imitate Jesus? First, try to obey the commandments. Children, obey their parents, teachers and those in authority.  Parents should obey the church, priests—confessors and spiritual directors and the Pope.  Priests should obey, the Pope, Superiors, and God. Once a  father told his sons to ride their horse over the hill rather than around it.  They obeyed! Thanks be to God!   There was a wild bear over the hill, on his hind legs ready to pounce on them and to devour them.
 Once I was told not to throw rocks—a real penance because I loved to throw  rocks. Once, at the entrance of the woods near my house I was wandering and I saw a pile of rocks!  Two voices  spoke to me: throw it! The other insisted:  no, obey!   The voice of the rocks—really the devil—won out!  I launched the rock and it pounded against a tree, rebounded back and beaned me in the head!  What a bump I had for close to a  week!  Disobedience is  costly!
3.     PATIENCE!   Jesus had remarkable patience, all His life and what wonderful examples! He patiently waited 30 years in Nazareth, exercising the office of humble carpenter.  He chose 12 men, with so many defects and he patiently formed these first Apostles.   When they misunderstood Him, contradicted Him and even abandoned Him, He still patiently forgave them and encouraged them.   On Good Friday, after being scourged and crowned with thorns, He carried the  weight of our sins on the cross. Falling, He patiently got up; again falling, again He rose; a third  time collapsing under the weight of the cross and almost being at the point of exhaustion, still He got up!  What a model for patience— never getting angry nor complaining !  How can we exercise patience?  On the Freeway in traffic, avoid anger; pray the Rosary!  Waiting on the confessional line; prepare yourself better.  Spouse being late! Hold your tongue!  Visited by sickness, learn to offer it up  in reparation for your sins and the sins of the whole world.  A car honks at you! Instead of cussing him out, pray a Hail Mary for him!  Failure in school, sports, job, get up and try again.  (Chariots of Fire, scene of 400 meters sprint. Eric Liddle fell, but he got up ran and won!)

4.   LOVE/CHARITY!   Jesus said, “No greater love than to lay down one’s life for the ones He loves!”   His last commandment was: “Love one another as I love you!”  What Jesus truly loves more than anything else is the salvation of souls!  Jesus told St. Faustina that true love is measured by the willingness to sacrifice and to suffer for the loved ones!  Look up at the cross and contemplate all of His sufferings that He went through for you and me and you have a mere glimpse of what true love is! How can we show love to Jesus and others?  Getting up early and preparing breakfast/ or turning on the heat, like St. John Neuman. Cleaning, cooking, washing—all the hard and tedious chores for love of God and neighbor. Correcting a family member that is in the wrong. Praying even when tired and exhausted. Giving words of encouragement to a family member.
5.    JESUS LOVED MARY!  He was the first devotee of Mary and He can teach us to do the same.  He gave Mary to John from the cross and to you and me. If we want to be pleasing to Jesus then we should love what and who He loves: Mary!

In conclusion, the major thrust of the life of a Catholic-Christian is to get to know Jesus, to fall in love with His Person, to follow Him more faithfully and seek out ways to bring others to Him.  Living out this plan of life, produces great peace, joy and interior strength and ends up in a rich harvest in heaven.
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SAINT JOSEPH: MY SHIELD AND PROTECTOR

Mirror of Patience, Lover of Poverty, Model of workmen, ornament of the domestic life, guardian of virgins, Pillar of families, Solace of the afflicted, hope of the sick, Patron of the dying, terror of demons, Protector of Holy Church— who do all of these praises refer to?  They all refer to the greatest saint in the catholic church—aside from Jesus and Mary, but related  to both of them—the Glorious saint Joseph!
One of the greatest women in the church, Doctor of prayer, reformer of the Carmelites, and prolific writer, and marvel of a person, St. Teresa of Avila  experienced a special love and protection from St. Joseph, as we read in her  autobiography.   She made three short but important observations on the power of St. Joseph.  First, that St. Joseph never let her down; upon praying to him, he always obtained her request. Second, that St. Joseph acted promptly, quickly; whereas, others saints would delay—so to speak, take there time!  Lastly, that St. Joseph is the universal patron!  For example, St. Anthony, as we all have experienced, comes to the aid in “finding lost objects, or even finding a good “boyfriend”. Whereas St Joseph is the saint that can aid us in absolutely all of our necessities.  St. Joseph hears, moves quickly, and in all occasions! Thanks Teresa for your insights!

The Church honors Glorious Saint Joseph on two specific days of the year and indirectly in two other seasons.   March 19th celebrates the Solemnity of St. Joseph,  under the title of “Husband of Mary”.  May 1st, the  commencement of the Month of Mary, honors St. Joseph the Worker.  However, implicitly, Saint Joseph is honored in the Season of Advent as well as Christmas and the Christmas Season.  The preparation  for the birth of Jesus, the actual birth and the Infancy Narratives, St. Joseph  plays a key role!  In the economy of salvation, St. Joseph was chosen for a most sublime role!

Theologians teach, St Bernardine of Siena and St. Francis de Sales, that with the specific vocation that God gives to each individual, there is a corresponding grace sufficient to carry out the demands of that vocation. People married sacramentally are endowed with the grace to be good and faithful spouses, warm, loving and firm parents and humble and obedient children of God.

This being the case, St Joseph was called to the most sublime mission and vocation, really a double vocation, of being chosen to be the Spouse of Mary the Mother of God, as well as the Foster-Father of  Jesus the Son of the Eternal Father.  Exalted call that St. Joseph received, would be communicated super-abundant graces to carry out with the utmost faithfulness that mission—which indeed the Glorious Saint Joseph did do!

There was only one perfect family on earth—not yours nor mine; rather it was the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and St. Joseph. Hence, Joseph was a key and pivotal person in this “Earthly Trinity”.  How impressive and sanctifying and worthy of imitation the contemplation of the lives of Jesus, Mary and Glorious Saint Joseph!   Therefore, let us outline the various “Titles” given to Saint Joseph, with the hope that you will get to know Joseph, pray to him, love him entrust your life to him and experience—like St. Teresa of Avila and many of the saints his powerful intercession.

First,  MASTER OF THE INTERIOR LIFE.     A title given to him by St Teresa herself. Meaning, that to grow in our interior life, our spiritual life, our intimate union with God, St. Joseph can play an indispensable role!   A very interesting parallel is that the Catechism of the Catholic Church likewise  gives another “Person” that same name:  THE HOLY SPIRIT— “Master of the interior life”.   Hence, why not beg good St. Joseph for the grace to make huge strides in your interior life; he is waiting, ready and willing to grant you this excellent request!
Second,  TEACHER OF PRAYER.   Related to being the “Master of the Interior Life” is that of being the “Teacher of prayer”.   Joseph acquired a most profound interior life of prayer and without a doubt lived the injunction of Jesus: “It is necessary to pray always, without losing heart. “ (Lk. 18:1). Prayers in the morning, prayers with Jesus before work, prayers before meals, prayers in the synagogue, prayers on the way to the Temple in caravan, prayers in family, the Psalms with Jesus and Mary, private and spontaneous prayer— all of these were offered by good St. Joseph with  fervor, humility and purity of intention.  Mind-boggling, staggering the human imagination, ineffable and beyond words is the following: Joseph also taught Jesus to pray!   In His Human nature Jesus grew in wisdom, age and grace before God and man. He learned to walk, eat, work, and speak. Therefore, it was both Mary and Joseph that taught Jesus human words by which he could speak to God the Father.  “Abba”—meaning “Daddy” was most possibly one of the first words that St. Joseph taught Jesus so that he could begin to speak in human words to His Father and eventually teach the whole world to say, “Our Father, who art in heaven…”
Third,  PATRON OF SPOUSES (HUSBANDS).    In a world in which unfaithfulness is rampant and rapidly spreading its evil poison and wreaking havoc on the family that should be the “Basic building block of society”, the “Domestic church”, St. Joseph teaches husbands the extreme importance of being faithful to their wives and living out the vows that they made on their wedding day before God, the church and before his spouse.  “I promise to be faithful to you in good times and in bad, health and in sickness, riches and poverty, until death do we part…” St. Joseph, help men to treasure and cherish their wives as the very “apple of their eye”.
Fourth,  PATRON OF FATHERS.  Equally important was the role that St. Joseph played as “Foster-Father” to Jesus, the “Son of the living God”.   A true father should fulfill the test of the “Three (3) P’s!” What are the “3’P’s” Let’s see! First and foremost, Powerful-prayer warrior”.  A true father, must have an intimate connection to the Heavenly Father. Actually, one of the primary roles of the earthly father is to reflect the love, compassion, presence, firmness and wisdom of the “Heavenly Father”. That mean, in concrete, that children should view the vision of God the Father reflected in their earthly father.   No doubt a very challenging objective; that is why we turn to Joseph who reflected the loving presence of  God the Father perfectly! May earthly fathers take good St. Joseph as their model! Also to provide for his family, as St. Joseph did by his constant and strenuous work. Finally, to protect the family from physical, moral, and spiritual dangers. Thus we admire, good St. Joseph, rising early and fleeing to Egypt, thereby, saving Jesus from being slaughtered by an insecure, jealous and bloodthirsty tyrant– King Herod!
Fifth,  PATRON OF WORKERS.    As a result of Original Sin, all must work and earn their bread by the sweat of their brow. (Gen. 3). Tedious, boring at times, demanding to the point of exhausting, grinding—all of these can be notes of daily work!  St. Joseph, went through it all!  Up before dawn, opening the shop, starting with prayer, working from dawn till dusk—this would be the daily rhythm of Joseph as well as Jesus!  Enough for the schedule, but what about the tenor of the work?  Hard, demanding, exhausting manual work of a Carpenter! Pounding nails, sawing wood pieces, sanding down to size, lifting heavy furniture, Saint Joseph did it all! At the end of the day, most likely he arrived home sore to the point of exhaustion, drenched with sweat, hair filled with sawdust, hands engraved with deep callouses—this would be the “hard-working” and faithful worker, Saint Joseph! May we rediscover the importance of hard, dedicated, concentrated work!   Idleness is the workshop of the devil! None of that in Joseph’s workshop! Rather, our attitude should be the sober but motivating words of St. Paul:  “Work out our salvation in fear and trembling!”
Sixth,  PATRON OF FAMILIES.  Interconnected with Joseph’s role as spouse and “foster-father” is his pivotal importance, his hinge-work in the cohesiveness of “The Holy Family”.   One practical point: the importance of the “Mere-presence” of Joseph to his family and the need of the father to be “present” to his family. Being present means, not simply physical presence—although this is key—but also emotional, moral, spiritual, psychological, joyful and concerned presence! Put simply, Good Saint Joseph was totally available to God at all times and at the same time, he was totally available for Mary and Jesus.  Many families suffer due to”Drop-out Dads”. Either these  “Dead-beat-Dads” have abandoned their families physically, have caved in to immorality such as drink porn or drugs, or prioritize friends, games and sports over the well-fare of their family! Not so with  “The ornament of the Domestic life”, St. Joseph, his mere presence was total and all-encompassing. He was a cohesive glue that sustained the peace and unity and harmony of the “Holy Family.”
Seventh,    TERROR OF DEMONS.   A striking tribute to  Glorious Saint Joseph.  St. Ignatius Loyola, in the two Standards, depicts a striking contrast, Jesus raising His Standard and inviting all to follow; then Satan, ugly, in Babylon, the city of confusion seated on a dunghill!  In our battle against “the enemy of our salvation” (St. Ignatius); the roaring lion, seeking to devour us (St. Peter), Satan or Prince of this world (Jesus), we must muster as much ammunition in our arsenal to defeat the devil.  St. Joseph can run quickly to our aid.  In the official Rite of Exorcism,  the holy name of St. Joseph is invoked!  At the mere name of Powerful Saint Joseph, the leagues of God’s enemies take to their heels and disappear!
Eighth,  PATRON OF PURITY AND CHRISTIAN COURTSHIP.   Indeed, the most important decision in ones’ life is both profession and even more important vocation. In other words, the work-profession one will choose, and  of greater importance, the future spouse that will be  chosen. Sad to say, most in the modern society, choose the wrong mate, in the wrong time, in the wrong place and with the wrong intention. This amounts to disaster!  From 50 to 60% of marriages end in divorce today for this reason!    Parents as well as young people should beg earnestly of good St. Joseph, who chose the Blessed Virgin Mary to be his spouse, to enlighten them as to who will be the future spouse.  The primary condition and intention should be to choose somebody who will be a bridge to heaven, both for the spouse as well as for the future children.  Once chosen a future partner, the grace of purity should be implored, so that both will avoid any impurity in their courtship, so that the wedding day will indeed reflect the beautiful, radiant and unsullied roses that will be placed before the image of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.   St. Joseph, pray for our youth, for purity and moral integrity!
Ninth,  PATRON OF THOSE IN TRIBULATION.   Admirable to the highest degree, the great St. Joseph in his coping with and accepting trial after trial, due to this great Saint’s boundless and limitless confidence in God’s all-abiding and ever-present Providential Plan  on him and his family.  Contemplate these scenes: the long trek from Nazareth to Bethlehem with a pregnant woman mounted on a donkey, rejection—probably many times seeking for lodging for the night, “No room for you in the Inn”, the birth in a poor, stinking, humid, abandoned animal refuge, a flight in the middle of the night to a foreign, alien, even hostile country where he had neither relatives, lodging, knowledge of the language, and finally losing his foster-Son for three interminable days— these were among the many trials of St. Joseph. Instead of giving into despair, he humbly submitted his will to the will of Almighty God and God Himself, resolved problems that seemed almost impossible to resolve!  May good Saint Joseph, strengthen our trust in God in the midst of life’s constant trials, tribulations, setbacks and failures!  St. Joseph firmly believed:  “The Lord is my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall lack.”
Tenth,  PATRON OF A HOLY AND HAPPY DEATH.     The most important moment of our lives is the moment of our death, in which this will determine for all eternity our destiny: either up or down, heaven or hell and with that for all eternity, meaning forever and ever and ever!!!!!!  Good St. Joseph can come to our rescue in this all too critical moment in our earthly pilgrimage!  Why? For the simple reason that St. Joseph had the all-important grace to die in the arms of both Jesus and Mary.  When? We do not know! But, having died in the arms of Jesus and Mary should spur us on to desire most ardently to do the same!  May St. Joseph obtain for us the grace to die in the state of grace and to die in the arms of Jesus, Mary—and yes—the loving arms of good Saint Joseph!

Let us end by commending ourselves to Glorious Saint Joseph in this short, poetic but beautiful prayer.  “ Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I give you my heart and my soul; Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, make my heart like unto thine; Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, assist me in my last agony; Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I breath forth my soul unto thee!  O Sacrament most holy, O Sacrament Divine, all praise and all-thanksgiving, be every moment thine!”

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