PROCLAMATION OF THE KINGDOM AND CALL  TO CONVERSION.(Mk. 1:15)

The the third Luminous Mystery is the “Proclamation of the Kingdom and call to conversion”. In the document of Pope John Paul II  THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY AND THE ROSARY,  in which the Holy Father introduces the new mysteries, “The Mysteries of Light”, the Holy Father also refers to this mystery as pointing to conversion through the Sacrament of Confession. In others words, true conversion will be realized especially through contact with Jesus, through Jesus the Healer in Confession. In this Sacrament Jesus indeed heals us of our spiritual infirmities and sicknesses.  Some  quick but clear suggestions to help you improve your confessions!

1. AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE!!!!  Be eternally grateful for your Catholic faith that you can receive this sacrament as often as you like and receive countless graces and blessings. Lord, thank you for your healing embrace in confession! (Lk 15)

2. TRUST!  The devil fills us with fear! Jesus  encourages us to trust in Him. Pope John Paul II’s opening words were:  “Do not be afraid to open up the door to Christ.”    Jesus said to St Faustina that the greatest sinner can become the greatest saint upon one condition: TRUST!!!!

3 GO!  The devil tempts us to procrastinate, to put off until tomorrow. Prepare well and just go!!!!

4. PREPARE WELL!  Try to prepare well the night before, begging Mary and the Holy Spirit for their help.  Ninety percent (90%) of confession is done even before you enter the confessional.

5. WRITTEN!  A great help can be to simply jot down your sins! Memory failure, “Senior moments” can flare up in moments of stress or fear! Have your list written! This will make it easier for you as well as the confessor! Destroy the evidence after!

6. PSALM 51/LUKE 15.  The church strongly exhorts us to use Sacred Scripture abundantly. Before entering the Confessional prayerfully read Psalm 51, the Act of Contrition of David, after his sin with Bathsheba.  Another passage might be Lk 15 the three Parables of God’s mercy, and the greatest the Prodigal Son (Merciful Father). Scripture can dispose you to receive the Sacraments well!

7. CONFESSOR: PRAY!   Another useful hint to improve your confessions would be to pray for your confessor before you enter the confessional. Once St Faustina did not pray for her confessor and the priest did not seem to understand her. The following time she did pray for her confessor and she left the confessional filled with peace! Try it: a prayer for the confessor!

8. FREQUENT CONFESSION!  The church encourages frequent confession. Sanctifying grace is received, peace of soul, as well as “Preventive Medicine”.  Frequent confession can  avoid big falls!!!!

9. PENANCE!  As  a novice, I remember once my Novice director encouraged us to frequent confession and said that it is a good practice to do double the penance that the priest will give you! Excellent advice! It shows true generosity of heart. Ignatius would call this MAGNANIMITY. (Annotation # 5 Spiritual Exercises).

10. FAMILY CONFESSION. Bring your family once a month!  Mrs. Budnik  commented in her book:  SEEKING PEACE, TRY CONFESSION, that she noticed that the more the family drifted away from confession, the more tension in the family. After confession an aroma of peace would permeate the home.  Family peace, love and harmony, through confession. Try it!

True peace of mind, heart and soul can only come through contact with the Merciful Heart of Jesus.  “Come to me all of you who are loaded with sin…..Jesus will forgive you!

BECOMING THE VOICE OF THE UNBORN CHILD!!!

The unborn child in the womb of the pregnant woman has a right to life, just as anyone of us outside of the womb because life begins at the moment of conception.  It is Almighty God, the origin and author of life, who has the right to give life and the right to end life.   Human life, indeed, is sacred from the moment of conception until natural death.

Pope John Paul II presents a modern Ignatian two standards: the Culture of death (Satan) and the Gospel of Life.  (Jesus, Our Lord and King). Let us stand with courage under the standard of Jesus Our King and defend unborn life. Let us be the “Voice” of the child, who in the womb cannot be heard. The following are ways to defend the child:

1. PRAYER!   We must storm heaven with our daily prayers.  The Hail Mary is especially powerful because we extol Mary’s “Yes” and Jesus within her womb: ” BLESSED IS THE FRUIT OF YOUR WOMB, JESUS…”  May every Hail Mary we recite repair for an abortion as well as prevent this cruel murder!

2. STUDY!   As followers of Christ, we should be well-informed by serious study of the topic.  The excellent website PRIESTSFORLIFE.ORG.  is  a superb website with extensive information on abortion and the Pro-life movement. Try it out!

3.  PRAYER IN FRONT OF ABORTION MILLS.  Find out where the nearest abortion clinic is to your home and silently protest by praying the Rosary in front.  Your prayers might make the difference in  enlightening a confused woman to turn around and have the baby!

4. PRO-LIFE LICENSE PLATE.  Buy a pro-life license plate, with some catchy phrase, like: IT IS NOT A CHOICE, IT IS A CHILD.”

5. VOTING.  Remember the non-negotiables when you cast your vote at the poll.  “Non-negotiable” means that these are always intrinsically wrong and immoral.  These are Homosexuality, Euthanasia, Contraception, Embryonic experimentation, and  ABORTION!!!  Your first criteria in choosing a political candidate is his position on defending the unborn child.  Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta expressed this concept:  “If we do not defend the most vulnerable in society, then we should not be surprised that there is a lower respect for life across the board.”

6.CHASTITY TEACHING!  Parents please teach your children the importance of the virtue of chastity.  “Blessed are the pure of heart, they will see God.” (Mt. 5:8) Unwanted teen pregnancies, all too often culminate in abortion!  Confirmation programs should insist on a “Chastity Retreat” and the giving of the chastity ring that the young girl or boy will give to their spouse on the day of their wedding, promising a life of virginity until marriage!

7. ADOPTION NOT ABORTION.   In cases where a pregnant woman is overwhelmed with the pregnancy and honestly believes that it is beyond her capacity to raise the child, then encourage her  as a valid option the possibility of ADOPTION.  Many good couples, who for painful reasons could not have a child, are very desirous to adopt a child. 

8. ABORTION, MERCY AND RECONCILIATION.   A woman who indeed has carried out an abortion should never, never give into despair! Rather, TRUST  in God’s infinite mercy. Confession, forgiveness and reconciliation is always possible.  The loving arms of the Father of the Prodigal Son are always open to embrace, kiss, hug and forgive. The greatest virtue of the Heart of Jesus is His mercy. (Pope John Paul II and St Faustina Kowlaska).

9.  ULTRA-SOUND.   For pregnant women who are vacillating over not having the baby, encourage them to visit and have an ULTRASOUND and see the baby.  The baby is a real person!!!  A Mom seeing her little one smiling, scratching his nose, yawning, his heart beating—- all these can be powerful reasons to motivate the Mom to say “Yes” to her little innocent baby!  Dr Bernard Nathanson was converted by seeing the baby in the womb!

10. THE GREATEST MIRACLE!  The greatest miracle is HOLY MASS!  Assist at Holy Mass, participate in Holy Mass. Offer the chalice and the Host for the unborn baby— in reparation and prevention. In the Mass, the priest in the “person of Christ” offers the precious Body, and Blood of Jesus for the innocent body and blood of the little baby!  No greater prayer in the universe can compare to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass— the “World’s Greatest Miracle”!

Friends in Jesus and Mary, let us do all we can through prayer and action to speak up for, to defend, to love and to save our little brothers and sisters in the womb.  They cannot speak! May we be the eloquent and strong voice of these most helpless of our brothers and sisters!

LITANY OF THANKS FOR “MY” BAPTISM AND GRACES  (Jn. 3:1-21)

Read the encounter between Jesus and Nicodemus and focus on the words: ” Amen, amen I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and  Spirit.” (Jn. 3:5). Now call to mind with immense gratitude the spiritual graces God bestowed on you on the day of your Baptism. Turn this meditation into a Litany of Thanksgiving!!!!

1. Freed from the stain of Original Sin; washed clean, purity of soul!

2. Become a son/daughter to God the Father! Truly son/daughter of God!

3. Become brother/sister to Jesus Christ. Indeed, Jesus is our older Brother!

4.  Living tabernacle of the Holy Spirit. He is the “Sweet Guest of your soul”.

5. Living temple of the Blessed Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

6. Receive the theological virtues connecting you directly to God: Faith, Hope, and Charity!

7. Endowed with the moral or cardinal virtues: Justice, Prudence, Fortitude, and Temperance.

8. Freedom and liberation from the enemy, the power of darkness, the devil: the exorcism!

9.Outpouring of the 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Piety, and Fear of the Lord. Come Holy Spirit come!

10 Sanctifying grace= meaning Friendship with Jesus.  He became your “Best Friend”. He is the Friend that will never fail you!

11 FAMILY MEMBER!  Became member of the family the Church. The Church is indeed the “Family of God”.

12. Actual graces.  These spiritual impulses like divine rays of light will descend upon the mind of the baptized and give consolation to the heart.

13. INHERITANCE.  Through Baptism, we have a right and are entitled to eternal life if we are faithful to our Baptismal Commitment.

14. EUCHARIST.  Once baptized, through preparation, we can receive the greatest sacrament: the Holy Eucharist, the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ!

15. MARY AS MOTHER.   If Baptism makes us sons/daughters of God, then it also means that we become sons/daughters of  Mary who is the Mother of God and the Mother of the Church!

Friends in Jesus and Mary,  make it a habit to give thanks to the Lord for having gratuitously given to you— without any merit of your own— the Sacrament of Baptism.  Quietly and prayerfully meditate on this list and your hearts will be filled with joy!

JESUS’ BAPTISM IN THE JORDAN:  CONTEMPLATIVE  SCENES. ( Mt.3:13-17)

Utilize your imagination to enter and to become part of this contemplative scene in the life of Jesus. Beg for the grace of intimate knowledge of Jesus, that you love Him more ardently and follow Him more closely.   THE BAPTISM SCENES…..

1. Jesus leaving Mary at Nazareth.  Try to picture and imagine the last moments that Jesus shared with His Mother Mary in Nazareth before His departure.  Imagine the two having a last meal, coffee  together and their conversation. You also are invited! What did they say? What would you say to them?

2. JESUS’ DEPARTURE.   Jesus leaves His Mother and walks quickly, determined, with His eyes fixed on the Father’s will and His mission? Are you weak and irresolute in your decisions. Walk  and talk with the Lord!

3. JORDAN RIVER AND JOHN.   Many people are   at the Jordan river because of one person: John the Baptist. Sanctity attracts!  Do you attract people to the Heart of Jesus?

4. JESUS’ PATIENCE AND HUMILITY.  Jesus with the utmost humility and patience goes to the end of the line and waits His turn—- this is the Son of God, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity!  Are you patient in waiting? Are you meek and humble of heart?

5. THE BLESSED TRINITY.  At Jesus’ Baptism is revealed a “Trinitarian Theophany”.  That is to say, manifested is the Father, in the voice, the Son in the Person of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove.  Prayer reflection!  Which of the Persons of the Blessed Trinity are you most distant from?  Beg for the grace of deeper intimacy with “That” Person. He longs to enter into deeper “Friendship” with you!

With this Biblical passage and points for meditation, you can easily grown in knowledge, love and desire to follow Jesus the Lord!

PRAYER ESSENTIALS: SILENCE AND AN OPEN HEART
I Kings 19:11-13  ELIJAH ENCOUNTERS THE LORD, WHERE???

1. God cannot be found in the midst of noise….

2. God is found in the silence; He is present in the gentle breeze!

3. Is my life cluttered with useless noises???

4. Could I eliminate excessive t.v, radio,  useless chatter, (gossip)

5.  Maybe  I have  purposely sought out noise because I am afraid to be alone and encounter myself and who God really wants me to be?

*****Meditate on this passage and these points. Have an open, friendly conversation with the Lord. He is waiting for you!

THE OPEN DOOR/ THE OPEN HEART:   REV. 3: 14-22

1. LUKEWARMNESS IN THE SPIRITUAL LIFE!  Have a fallen into a state of lukewarmness, tepidity, mediocrity in my spiritual life.  This is an abomination before the Lord.

2. FIRE!  Lord ignite my heart once again with fire. Lord give me a spark of that fire that came down on the Apostles that first Pentecost!

3. MATERIALISM.  Have riches taken a hold of your heart?  You cannot serve both God and money at the same time.  Are your possessions possessing you? Remember Lazarus and the rich man. The rich man was lost because his riches blinded him to Jesus in the poor Lazarus outside the gate.  Do I have blind spots in my spiritual life?

4. REPROOF!  God reproves those He loves. Accept reproval and fraternal correction with great humility— you will grow in holiness!

5. OPEN DOOR!  Jesus now is knocking at the door of your heart.  Is your door closed with lock and key and chain? is your door (heart) locked just with key?  is your door closed? is your door partially open? is your door totally open.  The Lord is knocking and waiting!

The above are two Biblical passages that can help you to enter into a retreat or simply to meditate. Two essentials for prayer are   SILENCE AND OPENNESS..   May the Blessed Virgin Mary, our great example, attain for us  exterior and interior silence and a well-disposed heart. “Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord, may it be done to me according to your word.”

Father Ed Broom, OMV, is Associate Pastor of St. Peter Chanel Church in Hawaiian Gardens, California. He is a member of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary and was ordained by Saint John Paul II on May 25, 1986. Fr. Ed teaches Catholic Ignatian Marian Spirituality through articles, podcasts, a radio show, retreats and spiritual direction.