UPCOMING EVENT… REGISTER NOW!

The Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, presented by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV, in a 10-Week Program with weekly one hour Presentations and assigned Daily Meditations drawn from Holy Scripture. The following are six key graces and fruits of the program.

1. Deeper prayer life leading to intimate friendship with Jesus the Lord.
2. Greater love for Holy Scripture.
3. Ability to examine one’s conscience better due to a greater understanding and appreciation of the Sacrament of Confession.
4. Greater love for Jesus truly present in the Holy Eucharist;
5. Deeper filial relationship with Mary, our Mother.
6. Discernment of Spirits. Learning to discern: who is talking to me right now – the good spirit or the bad spirit?

 

 If you can strive to live out these five “M’s” in your life, no doubt, you are on the Highway to holiness. The five M’s: Meditation, Mass, Mercy, Mission, and Mary! In our brief exposition we will strive to offer a short explanation of each and every one of the letters that starts with M—a five letter alliteration! Easy to remember: Meditation, Mass, Mercy, Mission, and Mary! Ready, set, go!

1. MEDITATION. As followers of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, an indispensable quality or aspect of our following of the Lord is that of daily MEDITATION. In the Lord’s Prayer, the Our Father, we pray: “Give us this day our daily Bread…” After fasting forty days and forty nights, the devil tempted Jesus who was hungry to change stones into bread. Jesus responded to this temptation quoting from the Old Testament: “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.” (Deut. 8:3) Jesus emphasized the proper priorities or hierarchy of values that we must embrace, the Bread of the Word of God. The Bread of the Word of God that nourishes the mind prevails over the physical bread that sustains the body. Physical bread terminates in the stomach to be digested; the Bread of the Word of God in the mind to be absorbed in Truth! Let us make a concerted effort and a determined determination to find time on a daily basis to meditate upon the Word of God. If possible, let us follow the invitation of Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen: “To make the Hour of Power!” Daily meditation on the Word of God will communicate to your person light, peace, joy, and a keen awareness that the Lord is walking with you during the course of the day. “The Lord is my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall want.” (Psalm 23:1)

2. MASS. Underneath the firmament of heaven, while traveling as pilgrims toward our eternal homeland that is Heaven, there is no greater prayer on earth than the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. It is the Divine rainbow that connects Heaven with earth. It is the cross of Christ that connects us to the Heavenly Father. It is the renewal of the Sacrifice of Calvary. Jesus offers His Precious Blood and His five wounds to the Eternal Father for the salvation of the entire world. In every Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the entire Paschal Mystery is accomplished. That is to say, in every Holy Mass this happens, in a mystical and invisible but very real way the Sacrifice of Calvary, the Passion and death, but also the Resurrection of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As much as possible and according to circumstances in our life and our specific vocation, we should make an effort to attend and participate in Holy Mass, fully, actively and consciously. If we are in the state of sanctifying grace, then we should hunger for the Eucharist, the Bread of life. “As the deer yearns for the running streams, so my soul yearns for you, O Lord.” (Psalm 41:1)  The fervent, frequent, faith-filled reception of Holy Communion is the greatest act that a human person can carry out this side of Heaven! Our sanctification and salvation, as well as that of the world at large, depends on Holy Mass and fervent Holy Communions! Let us tap into this infinite reservoir of grace right now!

3. MERCY. What is MERCY? It is nothing less than the Infinite Love of God forgiving the sinner. According to Saint Faustina, Saint Pope John Paul II, and the Angelic Doctor, Saint Thomas Aquinas, Mercy is the greatest attribute or virtue in the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Often a huge roadblock in our journey to holiness is a certain pride or resentment, disguised as a lack of forgiveness. Often almost unaware, we cling to resentments in which we have not fully forgiven. This serves as a true roadblock and obstacle in our itinerary to holiness. It might even be that we hold on to a resentment or grudge against God for something that He has allowed to transpire in our lives. Or perhaps some person hurt us, and we have not fully forgiven that person. Perhaps we have failed in one way or another and we are unwilling to forgive ourselves and seek forgiveness from God through the Sacrament of Confession. When we truly learn to forgive, we set the captive free; and that captive is our own miserable self!

4. MISSION. From Baptism, all are called to be true missionaries. Anointed as priest, prophet, and king, the Sacrament of Baptism empowers us with a triple mission. As priestly people we offer sacrifices for our sins and those of the whole world. As kings we learn to serve as Jesus teaches us: “The Son of man has not come to be served, but to serve and give his life in ransom for many.” (Mt. 20: 28) Then as prophet, we are all called to preach and spread the Word of God by word and by example.  Furthermore, the last words of Jesus in the Gospel of Saint Matthew are: “Go out to the whole world and teach them all that I taught you. Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  And behold, I am with you always, even until the end of the world.”  (Mt. 28: 19-20) In the quiet of prayer, beg the Holy Spirit to enlighten your mind to discern and to follow up on the specific way or ways in which you can spread the Word of God and proclaim the Kingdom. All of us are called to be passionate and fiery missionaries. If we love Jesus, then we should love what He loves most—the salvation of immortal souls. With an aching Heart, Jesus proclaimed: “I have come to cast fire on the earth, and I am not at peace until that fire is enkindled.” (Lk. 12:49)  As a missionary, may you cast fire and start a conflagration!

5. MARY: THE MOTHER OF GOD, THE MOTHER OF THE CHURCH, AND OUR LOVING MOTHER. It is interesting, the order or juxtaposition of this exposition. Indeed, Mary lived out to the fullest extent possible these first four M’s: Meditation, Mass, Mercy, and Mission. Hence, she can assist us to live them out most efficaciously!

a) MEDITATION: Twice in the Gospel of Saint Luke in Chapter Two, Mary is presented as a model for meditation. After the visit of the Shepherds, the Evangelist states that Mary pondered these things in her heart. The word ponder means to meditate, to ruminate (the way a cow chews the cud), to reflect seriously upon these happenings related to Jesus. Then about twelve years later, when the Child Jesus was found in the Temple after three days of sorrowful search, once again Mary pondered these events in her Immaculate Heart. Hence, Mary serves as a contemplative model of meditation for all of us!

b) MASS. When Our Lady appeared in Mexico (Guadalupe), France (Lourdes), and Portugal (Fatima), unequivocally she asked that a Church be built. Why? So that people would go frequently to this sacred place where Jesus is offered to God the Father in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for the salvation of immortal souls. Saint Pope John Paul II asserted that in every celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, Mary is present as she was at the foot of the cross on Calvary when Jesus offered Himself as the sacrificial Victim for the salvation of the world. (Jn. 19: 25-27)

c) MERCY. Among the many mystical and poetic titles given to the Blessed Virgin Mary is that of Mary as MOTHER OF MERCY. In fact, one of the greatest spiritual literary masterpieces ever written on Mary exalting Mary’s sublime virtue of mercy is “The Glories of Mary” by Saint Alphonsus Liguori. This unique, classic spiritual masterpiece comments on one prayer—the Hail Holy Queen. In this beautiful prayer recited at the end of the Holy Rosary, we pray: “Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope…” Saint Alphonsus asserts that nobody should ever fear approaching Mary because Mary is PURE MERCY!  She is the quickest bridge to the merciful Heart of Jesus. In our battles to conquer our pride and resentments, Our Lady is a most efficacious means and intercessor!

d) MISSION. Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary motivates our hearts, filling them with the fire of the Holy Spirit to bring Christ to others and bring others to Christ—both! For that reason, one of the greatest Missionaries in the history of the Church, Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta, pointed out with accurate precision: “Mary was the first Missionary of Charity.”  Why? Because in the Mystery of the Visitation Mary went in haste to bring Jesus to Saint Elizabeth and Saint John the Baptist in her womb. Therefore, let us humbly implore Mary the Missionary that through her most powerful prayers she would ignite in our hearts a fiery and passionate desire to set all on fire in the world with the love for Christ!

In conclusion, friends in Jesus and Mary, let us strive to live out the spiritual alliteration of the 5 M’S: 1) MEDITATION, 2) MASS, 3) MERCY, 4) MISSION, and 5) MARY! If carried out with energy of will, intelligence, and perseverance, we will have entered on the super-highway to Heaven. Let us push the pedal to the medal and reach our eternal goal!

Copyright 2021 Oblates of the Virgin Mary
St. Peter Chanel Church, Hawaiian Gardens, CA

UPCOMING EVENT… REGISTER NOW!

The Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, presented by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV, in a 10-Week Program with weekly one hour Presentations and assigned Daily Meditations drawn from Holy Scripture. The following are six key graces and fruits of the program.

1. Deeper prayer life leading to intimate friendship with Jesus the Lord.
2. Greater love for Holy Scripture.
3. Ability to examine one’s conscience better due to a greater understanding and appreciation of the Sacrament of Confession.
4. Greater love for Jesus truly present in the Holy Eucharist;
5. Deeper filial relationship with Mary, our Mother.
6. Discernment of Spirits. Learning to discern: who is talking to me right now – the good spirit or the bad spirit?

One of the key chapters in the Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium, Chapter V, is the Universal Call to Holiness. In concrete, this chapter lays out the goal and the purpose of every human person, created in the image and likeness of God: the call to become a saint! Jesus expressed this command unequivocally and with utmost clarity and transparency: “Be holy as your Heavenly Father is holy.” (Mt. 5:48) In the most famous block of teaching and preaching of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Sermon on the Mount, in the initial phase of this teaching called the Beatitudes Jesus teaches: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for holiness; they will be satisfied.” (Mt. 5:6)  Saint Paul in his letter to the Thessalonians reiterates the same truth: “This is the will of your heavenly Father: your sanctification.” (1Thess 4: 3) The modern saint, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, exhorts us in these words: “Holiness is not the privilege of the few, but the duty of all.”

Therefore, let us offer the Express-way to holiness. Instead of choosing and pursuing a circuitous, labyrinthine, laborious and sometimes frustrating path towards holiness, why not choose the quickest, most secure and efficacious path to arrive at the heights of holiness in our short life here on earth!

What is this short-cut, this smooth path to Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life? It is Jesus Himself through Mass and Holy Communion. However, the means by which we connect with this electric current of grace and holiness is through living out the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass to the fullest extent possible. The Dogmatic Constitution on the Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium, expresses it in the following words: “The faithful must participate fully, actively and consciously in the Mass… the source and summit of holiness.”

As a motivation to all people of good will who take sincerely this Universal Call to Holiness, we will accentuate the remarkable sanctifying effects that Holy Communion can produce in the recipient of such a sublime Sacrament. Indeed, the most Holy Eucharist, which is truly and substantially the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus, the Son of the living God, is the key to all holiness.

Before entering into the effects that Holy Communion produces in the individual, a key theological concept must be explained with clarity and precision: The concept of Dispositive-grace. This means that the Sacrament of the Eucharist is truly Jesus, the Son of the Eternal Father, the Holy of Holies. However, the graces received in the reception of Holy Communion are commensurate or in direct proportion to the disposition of the individual heart that receives Jesus. If one receives Jesus in mortal sin then he eats and drinks to his own condemnation. (I Corinthians 11: 17-22). If the preparation and reception is mediocre, the graces will correspond to the attitude of mediocrity. If the disposition is good, the graces will flow more freely. If the disposition is fervent then graces will redound all the more. Finally, if the preparation is excellent and the reception a heart on fire with love then the effect can be compared to a spiritual atomic-bomb: an explosion of graces. The latter should be our aim and our goal!

Now we will enumerate and explain exactly what can take place in the well-disposed heart that receives the Eucharistic Lord Jesus in Mass in the context of the most Holy Eucharist—the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus.

1. PURIFICATION OF THE HEART AND SOUL. Holy Communion received with the ardent fire of charity can serve to burn away the residue of smaller sins that we call venial sins. Saint John of the Cross, the Mystical Doctor of the Church, offers us this analogy. Put a rusty piece of iron in a scathing and intense fire, the fire will consume the rust and the iron assumes the same property as the fire. So it is with Holy Communion. The Council of Trent says it is the antidote to our daily infirmities. On a Pastoral note, nobody should refrain from the reception of Holy Communion if they have venal sin(s) on their soul.

2. SPIRITUAL HEART-TRANSPLANT. Saint Margaret Mary AIacoque had the unique and incredible privilege of contemplating the most Sacred Heart of Jesus at Paray Le Monial in France. What a blessing and unique privilege indeed! However, it must be stated with gratitude and great humility that we have a more frequent and greater privilege. We can receive Holy Communion on a daily basis. In the Our Father, Jesus taught us to pray: “Give us this day our daily-bread…” We truly receive the total Lord Jesus—His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity, and that includes the Sacred Heart of Jesus. So in a real sense, every Holy Communion received worthily is truly a SPIRITUAL-HEART-TRANSPLANT. After receiving Holy Communion, we have the Sacred Heart of Jesus beating in our heart! Our heart becomes consumed in His Sacred Heart!

3. THE MOST SUBLIME VIRTUES IN THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS. Following up on the reality of the Sacred Heart of Jesus that we receive in every Holy Communion is the fact that with Jesus’ Heart, we also receive His most sublime virtues. Faith, Hope, Charity, Humility, Patience, Obedience, Purity, Fortitude, Meekness, Gentleness, Wisdom and Knowledge—all of these and all of the virtues imaginable are truly present in every Holy Communion. Still more, these virtues in Jesus are the most refined, the most holy, the most sublime that the human mind can comprehend.

4. CONVERSION OF VICE TO VIRTUE. For this reason, the great Educator of youth of the 19^th Century, Saint John Bosco, was a precursor of the practice of frequent Holy Communion in that he would encourage his young people in the Oratory in Turin to receive Holy Communion frequently and fervently so as to eradicate vices—especially that of impurity—and supplant them with holiness. There is no more efficacious means to conquer our vices and sinfulness then frequent, fervent and faith-filled Holy Communions!  “Lord, strengthen my faith!”

5. MIND-TRANSPLANT. The great Apostle to the Gentiles, Saint Paul, exhorts us in these words: “Put on the mind of Christ!”  Then he insists: “You have the mind of Christ.” And finally: “Do not conform your mind to this world, but have a fresh way of thinking.” Indeed, if Holy Communion is the Total Christ then that includes the mind of Jesus. If you want to burn away the dross of bad and ugly thoughts, then meditate upon the Word of God and receive Holy Communion. What chlorine is to a swimming-pool, so is the Word of God and Holy Communion to our mind!

6. SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT. The Prophet Elijah ate the bread that the angel gave him two times and from the energy and strength derived from that bread, the great Prophet walked forty days and forty nights. (The same length of time Jesus was in the desert!) In an analogous sense, Holy Communion endows and inundates us with spiritual energy so that we can travel with great alacrity and strength on the Highway to Heaven!

7. SPIRITUAL REMEDY AND PREVENTIVE MEDICINE. If we are well-nourished bodily when the flu-season arrives, we have a much better chance to avoid those common colds, coughs, flu and runny-noses. On one occasion, I was about to come down with a cold and some person of good will gave me Airborne—a potent dose of Vitamin C. Guess what? I avoided the cold that was about to grab hold of me! In a parallel sense, the frequent reception of Holy Communion can serve to bundle us up and fortify us against the onslaught of our imperious and disordered passions that constantly strive to inundate and overwhelm us, inciting us to sin!

8. JOY, PEACE, AND INNER CONSOLATION. As an appetizing and enjoyable meal shared with friends culminates in joy, peace, happiness and consolation, so it is with nourishing our souls on Jesus in Holy Communion, the Bread of Life. This analogy is expressed very clearly by the Angelic Doctor, Saint Thomas Aquinas. Just as good food nourishes and uplifts the body, so does Holy Communion enrich and uplift the soul!

9. REMARKABLE SOURCE AND STRENGTH TO CARRY OUR DAILY CROSS. Jesus addresses the tired, the weary, the burdened, the overwhelmed, those experiencing heavy trials and tribulations with these words—related to Holy Mass and Holy Communion: “Come to me all you who are weary and find life burdensome 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 your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Mt, 11:28-30). So many people have given witness to the fact that in the midst of the trials of life, the sufferings and sorrows, the heart-aches and heart-breaks, running to Jesus in Mass and receiving Him in the Sacrament of Holy Communion serves as an inexpressible relief and strength, a source of solace, hope, and support! Do not try to carry your cross alone. Rather, invite Jesus to help you shoulder the burden by receiving Him into your inner-most being in Holy Communion. “Come, Lord Jesus, Come!”

10. PROMISE OF ETERNAL LIFE: HEAVEN WILL BE OURS FOREVER! What thought can be more consoling than the fact and truth that one day we will be united with Jesus in Heaven! He will be Our God, Savior, Friend, Companion, Support, Teacher, Master, and our Greatest Lover in Heaven. This incredible promise was made by Jesus in His “Bread of Life Discourse” in the Synagogue of Capernaum. (Jn. 6:22-71) These words are most consoling: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert and died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one might eat it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” (Jn. 6: 47-51) As clear as the sun at midday are these words of Jesus! If we have established the habit of receiving Jesus in Holy Communion—the Bread of Life that gives life to the world—with hearts filled with deep faith, hearts full of fiery love and passion, and we receive frequently as we pray in the Our Father, “give us this day our daily bread“, then the promise of Jesus is clear! Heaven will be ours forever and ever and ever!

Let us conclude with what the great friends of God, the saints themselves have preached and written on the great importance of frequent and fervent reception of Holy Communion in our lives!

Saint Ignatius of Loyola:
“One of the most admirable effects of Holy Communion is to preserve the soul from sin, and to help those who fall through weakness to rise again. It is much more profitable, then, to approach the Divine Sacrament with love, respect and confidence, than to remain away through excess fear and scrupulosity.”

Saint Josemaria Escriva:
“When you approach the tabernacle remember that He has been waiting for you for twenty centuries.”

Saint John Vianney:
“All the good works in the world are not equal to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass because they are the works of man; but the Mass is the work of God. Martyrdom is nothing in comparison for it is but the sacrifice of man to God; but the Mass is the sacrifice of God to man.”

Saint Maximilian Kolbe:
“If the angels could be jealous of men, they would be so for one reason: Holy Communion.”

Saint Frances De Sales:
“When you have received Him, stir up your heart to do Him homage, speak to Him about your spiritual life, gaze upon Him in your soul where He is present for your happiness, welcome Him as warmly as possible, and behave outwardly in such a way that your actions may give proof to all of His Presence.”

In conclusion, the key to holiness in life on your Highway to Heaven is faith-filled, frequent, and fervent reception of Jesus, the Holy of Holies and your Best Friend, in Holy Communion. May Our Lady of the Eucharist intercede for us now and at the hour of our death! Amen.

Copyright 2021 Oblates of the Virgin Mary
St. Peter Chanel Church, Hawaiian Gardens, CA

UPCOMING EVENT… REGISTER NOW!

The Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, presented by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV, in a 10-Week Program with weekly one hour Presentations and assigned Daily Meditations drawn from Holy Scripture. The following are six key graces and fruits of the program.

1. Deeper prayer life leading to intimate friendship with Jesus the Lord.
2. Greater love for Holy Scripture.
3. Ability to examine one’s conscience better due to a greater understanding and appreciation of the Sacrament of Confession.
4. Greater love for Jesus truly present in the Holy Eucharist;
5. Deeper filial relationship with Mary, our Mother.
6. Discernment of Spirits. Learning to discern: who is talking to me right now – the good spirit or the bad spirit?

From the cross, Jesus gave the person He loved most on earth, His Blessed Mother Mary to Saint John and to us as our Mother most holy! May we strive to know Mary, to love Mary, and to imitate Mary a little more every day. In his Marian Spiritual Masterpiece, True Devotion to Mary, Saint Louis de Montfort highlights ten of the most important virtues of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Let us put forth this list of Mary’s principal virtues.

We read in the text of True Devotion to Mary by Saint Louis de Montfort (# 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.

Let us humbly beg our Blessed Mother Mary for the grace to understand these ten virtues that she practiced always to a heroic degree of perfection, but also let us beg for the grace to be able to put these virtues into practice in our daily walk of life!

1. DEEP HUMILITY. A humble person recognizes that all the good they have done, and can do, is a result of the Presence of God in their life. Mary was most humble, calling herself the servant or the handmaid of the Lord. Also, in her magnificent canticle of praise that we call The Magnificat (Lk. 1: 46-55), Mary states that God has looked with favor upon the humility of His handmaid. Let us beg Mary for a meek and humble heart so that like her, we will attribute our successes to God and our failures to ourselves.

2. LIVELY FAITH. Faith is one of the three theological virtues—faith, hope, and charity. Faith is believing in God and His Word without seeing with our eyes. Jesus gently reproved the doubting Thomas with these words: “Blessed are those who believe without seeing.” (Jn. 20: 29) Mary is the woman of faith par excellence. Even though Mary witnessed the Passion, suffering, and death of Jesus, she believed that He would conquer death. Therefore, when we are tempted to doubt, let us turn to Mary, the woman of faith, and beg for her most powerful intercession.

3. BLIND OBEDIENCE. By giving her consent in the Annunciation—“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word.” (Lk. 1: 38), Mary displayed an admirable attitude of obedience to the Word of God and trust in His holy will. When we are tempted to rebel and turn against God, let us, through Mary’s prayers and example, obey God like Mary, and also like Jesus who “was obedient to death, even death on the cross.” (Phil. 2: 8)

4. UNCEASING PRAYER. Prayer can be defined as communication with God. There is no better example in the world, aside from Jesus, with respect to a life of constant prayer then that of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Scripture tells us, “Mary pondered these things in her heart.” (Lk. 2: 19) Continually she thought of God in her mind and loved God with all of her heart; she maintained constant communication with the Blessed Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The devil of laziness can attack all of us. May Our Lady inspire us to be constant, fervent, and faithful in prayer! Indeed, prayer is the key to our salvation. What air is to the lungs, prayer is to the soul!

5. CONSTANT SELF-DENIAL. Another way of wording this is mortification—the ascetical life which leads to the mystical life of union with God. Mary denied and sacrificed herself in all times and places. By doing so, she gave full reign for God to work in the entirety of her life. In Mary’s approved Apparitions, both in Lourdes and Fatima, she strongly encouraged the practice of prayer, but also that of sacrifice. By making sacrifices we are imitating Mary in the art of self-denial. Self-denial turns us towards God and away from self. Mary was always God-centered and never self-centered. May this be our style of life!

6. SURPASSING PURITY. One of the most sublime virtues that characterizes the most Blessed Virgin Mary is that of her spotless purity; Mary is known as the Immaculate One. In Fatima, Our Lady sadly expressed that most souls are lost to the eternal fires of hell due to sins against the virtue of holy purity. Mary is the Perpetual Virgin. She was virgin before the birth of Jesus, during the birth of Jesus, and after the birth of Jesus. True devotion to Mary can help us maintain our purity, and if we have lost it, to seek restoration through Sacramental Confession. Contemplating a beautiful picture, painting, or statue of Our Lady can instill in us noble aspirations for purity.

7. ARDENT LOVE. Of all the virtues that we are called to practice, that of ardent love, sometimes called charity, is the greatest. Read the beautiful hymn of love of Saint Paul: I Corinthians 13. Our Lady practiced love to a sublime degree and in two ways, for love or charity has two dimensions. Mary at all times and in all places loved God first and foremost. However, Mary expressed concretely her love for God by ardent love for her neighbor. Examples of this. In the Annunciation, through her unconditional Yes Mary showed her total and unreserved love for God. However, moving in haste to visit her cousin Elizabeth, Mary manifested great love for her neighbor. In imitation of Mary, may we say in the words of Saint Paul, “The love of God compels me.” (2 Cor 5: 14) May we learn this double commandment—love of God and love of neighbor—and strive to live it out on a daily basis. Saint John of the Cross states: “In the twilight of our existence, we will be judged on love.”

8. HEROIC PATIENCE. Not one of us can say that we are patient at all times, in all places, and in all circumstances. Unlike Mary, who manifested remarkable patience! Consider Mary in her pregnancy traveling the long trek to Bethlehem and then being rejected—what great patience! Losing the Child Jesus when He was twelve years of age for three long days before finding Him in the Temple—another manifestation of heroic patience! Most especially, in accompanying Jesus in His Passion leading up to His brutal Crucifixion and death, Mary manifested an unequaled patience! When our patience is put to the test, let us call out to Mary for her assistance. She will never fail us!

9. ANGELIC KINDNESS. The opposite of kindness is rudeness. Just try to imagine the way and manner in which Mary must have treated her neighbor! A warm welcome, a kind and winning smile, courtesy to the maximum, an attentive ear to listen—all of these are clear manifestations of kindness, angelic kindness. Mary did all this to the highest degree! Saint Frances de Sales on this virtue commented: One can attract more flies with a spoonful of honey then with a barrel full of vinegar. In other words, kindness attracts others to Christ while rude and drastic measures repel them. May Our Lady teach us what it means to be kind and may we put it into practice!!!

10. HEAVENLY WISDOM. One of the sublime titles given to Mary in her glorious Litany is that of SEAT OF WISDOM. A wise person knows what is most important in life. Dynamic love for God and ardent desire for the salvation of immortal souls are hallmarks of true wisdom. Our Lady had a burning love for God and an ardent desire for the conversion of sinners and their eternal salvation. “The Blessed Virgin persevered in her union with her Son unto the cross… joining herself with his sacrifice in her mother’s heart.” (Vat II, Lumen Gentium) King Solomon was once wise, but he gave into his weakness—that of lustful desires—and ended his life a fool. We beg the intercession of Our Lady Seat of Wisdom to attain for us not only wisdom now, but perseverance in this sublime virtue until the very end!

In conclusion, may we ardently desire to know, love, and imitate our Blessed Mother Mary! May we be motivated with a firm decision to meditate frequently and fervently on the virtues of Mary most holy and then strive to live them out all the days of our life! Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

 

Copyright 2020 Oblates of the Virgin Mary
St. Peter Chanel Church, Hawaiian Gardens, CA

 

If you can strive to live out these five “M’s” in your life, no doubt, you are on the Highway to holiness. The five M’s: Meditation, Mass, Mercy, Mission, and Mary!

In our brief exposition we will strive to offer a short explanation of each and every one of the letters that starts with M—a five letter alliteration! Easy to remember: Meditation, Mass, Mercy, Mission, and Mary! Ready, set, go!

1. MEDITATION. As followers of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, an indispensable quality or aspect of our following of the Lord is that of daily MEDITATION. In the Lord’s Prayer, the Our Father, we pray: “Give us this day our daily Bread…”  After fasting forty days and forty nights, the devil tempted Jesus who was hungry to change stones into bread. Jesus responded to this temptation quoting from the Old Testament: “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.” (Deut. 8:3) Jesus emphasized the proper priorities or hierarchy of values that we must embrace. The Bread of the Word of God that nourishes the mind prevails over the physical bread that sustains the body. Physical bread terminates in the stomach to be digested, the Bread of the Word of God in the mind to be absorbed in Truth! Let us make a concerted effort and a determined determination to find time on a daily basis to meditate upon the Word of God. If possible, let us follow the invitation of Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen: “To make the Hour of Power!” Daily meditation on the Word of God will communicate to your person light, peace, joy, and a keen awareness that the Lord is walking with you during the course of the day. “The Lord is my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall want.” (Psalm 23:1)

2. MASS. Underneath the firmament of heaven, while traveling as pilgrims toward our eternal homeland that is Heaven, there is no greater prayer on earth than the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. It is the Divine rainbow that connects Heaven with earth. It is the cross of Christ that connects us to the Heavenly Father. It is the renewal of the Sacrifice of Calvary. Jesus offers His Precious Blood and His five wounds to the Eternal Father for the salvation of the entire world. In every Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the entire Paschal Mystery is accomplished. That is to say, in every Holy Mass this happens, in a mystical and invisible but very real way the Sacrifice of Calvary, the Passion, and death, but also the Resurrection of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As much as possible and according to circumstances in our life and our specific vocation, we should make an effort to attend and participate in Holy Mass, fully, actively and consciously. If we are in the state of sanctifying grace, then we should hunger for the Eucharist, the Bread of life. “As the deer yearns for the running streams, so my soul yearns for you, O Lord.” (Psalm 41:1)  The fervent, frequent, faith-filled reception of Holy Communion is the greatest act that a human person can carry out this side of Heaven! Our sanctification and salvation, as well as that of the world at large, depends on Holy Mass and fervent Holy Communions! Let us tap into this infinite reservoir of grace right now!

3. MERCY. What is MERCY? It is nothing less than the Infinite Love of God forgiving the sinner. According to Saint Faustina, Saint Pope John Paul II, and the Angelic Doctor, Saint Thomas Aquinas, Mercy is the greatest attribute or virtue in the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Often a huge roadblock in our journey to holiness is a certain pride or resentment, disguised as a lack of forgiveness. Often almost unaware, we cling to resentments in which we have not fully forgiven. This serves as a true roadblock and obstacle in our itinerary to holiness. It might even be that we hold on to a resentment or grudge against God for something that He has allowed to transpire in our lives. Or perhaps some person hurt us, and we have not fully forgiven that person. Perhaps we have failed in one way or another and we are unwilling to forgive ourselves and seek forgiveness from God through the Sacrament of Confession. When we truly learn to forgive, we set the captive free; and that captive is our own miserable self!

4. MISSION. From Baptism, all are called to be true missionaries. Anointed as priest, prophet, and king, the Sacrament of Baptism empowers us with a triple mission. As priestly people we offer sacrifices for our sins and those of the whole world. As kings we learn to serve as Jesus teaches us: “The Son of man has not come to be served, but to serve and give his life in ransom for many.” (Mt. 20: 28) Then as prophet, we are all called to preach and spread the Word of God by word and by example. Furthermore, the last words of Jesus in the Gospel of Saint Matthew are: “Go out to the whole world and teach them all that I taught you. Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  And behold, I am with you always, even until the end of the world.”  (Mt. 28: 19-20) In the quiet of prayer, beg the Holy Spirit to enlighten your mind to discern and to follow up on the specific way or ways in which you can spread the Word of God and proclaim the Kingdom. All of us are called to be passionate and fiery missionaries. If we love Jesus, then we should love what He loves most—the salvation of immortal souls. With an aching Heart, Jesus proclaimed: “I have come to cast fire on the earth, and I am not at peace until that fire is enkindled.” (Lk. 12:49)  As a missionary, may you cast fire and start a conflagration!

5. MARY: THE MOTHER OF GOD, THE MOTHER OF THE CHURCH, AND OUR LOVING MOTHER. It is interesting, the order or juxtaposition of this exposition. Indeed, Mary lived out to the fullest extent possible these first four M’s: Meditation, Mass, Mercy, and Mission. Hence, she can assist us to live them out most efficaciously!

a) MEDITATION: Twice in the Gospel of Saint Luke in Chapter Two, Mary is presented as a model for meditation. After the visit of the Shepherds, the Evangelist states that Mary pondered these things in her heart. The word ponder means to meditate, to ruminate (the way a cow chews the cud), to reflect seriously upon these happenings related to Jesus. Then about twelve years later, when the Child Jesus was found in the Temple after three days of sorrowful search, once again Mary pondered these events in her Immaculate Heart. Hence, Mary serves as a contemplative model of meditation for all of us!

b) MASS. When Our Lady appeared in Mexico (Guadalupe), France (Lourdes), and Portugal (Fatima), unequivocally she asked that a Church be built. Why? So that people would go frequently to this sacred place where Jesus is offered to God the Father in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for the salvation of immortal souls. Saint Pope John Paul II asserted that in every celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, Mary is present as she was at the foot of the cross on Calvary when Jesus offered Himself as the sacrificial Victim for the salvation of the world. (Jn. 19: 25-27)

c) MERCY. Among the many mystical and poetic titles given to the Blessed Virgin Mary is that of Mary as MOTHER OF MERCY. In fact, one of the greatest spiritual literary masterpieces ever written on Mary exalting Mary’s sublime virtue of mercy is “The Glories of Mary” by Saint Alphonsus Liguori. This unique, classic spiritual masterpiece comments on one prayer—the Hail Holy Queen. In this beautiful prayer recited at the end of the Holy Rosary, we pray: “Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope…”  Saint Alphonsus asserts that nobody should ever fear approaching Mary because Mary is PURE MERCY!!! She is the quickest bridge to the merciful Heart of Jesus. In our battles to conquer our pride and resentments, Our Lady is a most efficacious means and intercessor!

d) MISSION. Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary motivates our hearts, filling them with the fire of the Holy Spirit to bring Christ to others and bring others to Christ—both! For that reason, one of the greatest Missionaries in the history of the Church, Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta, pointed out with accurate precision: “Mary was the first Missionary of Charity.” Why? Because in the Mystery of the Visitation Mary went in haste to bring Jesus to Saint Elizabeth and Saint John the Baptist in her womb. Therefore, let us humbly implore Mary the Missionary that through her most powerful prayers she would ignite in our hearts a fiery and passionate desire to set all on fire in the world with the love for Christ!

In conclusion, friends in Jesus and Mary, let us strive to live out the spiritual alliteration of the 5 M’S: 1) MEDITATION, 2) MASS, 3) MERCY, 4) MISSION, and 5) MARY! If carried out with energy of will, intelligence, and perseverance, we will have entered on the super-highway to Heaven. Let us push the pedal to the medal and reach our eternal goal!

Copyright 2021 Oblates of the Virgin Mary
St. Peter Chanel Church, Hawaiian Gardens, CA

A daily practice to honor St. Joseph for the month.

Thanks be to God, thanks be to the Holy Father, Pope Francis, thanks be to the hard work of Fr. Donald Calloway, and the writings of St. Teresa of Avila and St. Bernardino of Siena, the greatest of all saints is becoming more prominent. This greatest of all saints is the Glorious Saint Joseph.

The theologians have created a theological term or expression to describe the role and value of the Great Saint Joseph. It is PROTODULIA. Latria is our relationship to God: that of praise. Hyperdulia, given to Mary: the highest veneration. Dulia, given to the saints: that of veneration. However, to Saint Joseph we attribute the terminology—PROTODULIA—meaning that of the highest veneration of all the saints.

Why then should this cult of PROTODULIA be attributed to Saint Joseph? In the writings of the Franciscan Doctor of the Church, St. Bernardino of Siena, this is explained with great clarity, and in the following way. God creates every person with a specific vocation. Now with that specific vocation, God always endows that individual with commensurate or proportional graces to carry out that vocation or mission.

A married man and woman blessed with the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony are imbued with the matrimonial graces to be faithful to each other until death, as well as to procreate and educate their children as future citizens of heaven. A priest upon receiving the Sacrament of Holy Orders, receives an abundance of graces to be faithful to his priestly ministry of preaching the Word of God, celebrating the Sacraments with fervor, and living out his calling as a true Shepherd to the flock and sheep entrusted to his care.

In a parallel sense, the Glorious Saint Joseph had a sublime and incomparable double mission or vocation. He was both the Spouse of Mary, the Mother of God, and also the foster-father of Jesus, the Son of the Living God. Given that this double vocation of Saint Joseph was so sublime, God generously endowed him with the commensurate or corresponding graces to carry out such a sublime mission.

Therefore, in this year dedicated to the Glorious Saint Joseph—Dec. 8, 2020 to Dec 8, 2021—let us strive to do something special for Saint Joseph every day of the month. If done, beyond a shadow of a doubt, Saint Joseph will obtain for you, as well as your loved ones, very special graces in this life, but even more important, in the life to come.

Therefore, we would like to offer, suggest, and even exhort all to do something special for the Glorious Saint Joseph every day of the month. Many of the suggestions are very simple and can be done in a matter of seconds. What is important is not so much the greatness of the action, but the love that accompanies the action. St. Joseph lived a very humble and hidden life, but a life very pleasing to Jesus and Mary, and God the Father. If you can carry out some small gestures to St. Joseph, he will repay you with miracles in your life.

DAILY PRACTICES TO CARRY OUT IN HONOR OF GLORIOUS SAINT JOSEPH; ONE FOR EVERY DAY OF THE MONTH IN THE YEAR OF ST. JOSEPH.

1. Short invocation: “Saint Joseph, pray for me.”

2. Statue of St. Joseph. Purchase a statue of St. Joseph and place it in your room. Upon entering, greet St. Joseph.

3. The Litany of St. Joseph. Pray the Litany of St. Joseph, these beautiful invocations that highlight the holiness and greatness of this saint.

4. Painting/picture of St. Joseph. Purchase either a picture or a painting and place it in a prominent place in your home for all to see, thereby honoring St. Joseph.

5. Painting/picture of the Holy Family. Of course, needless to say, upon honoring a portrait of the Holy Family, we are also honoring St. Joseph as Spouse of Mary and Foster Father of Jesus.

6. Wednesdays: honor St. Joseph in a particular way. Traditionally, throughout the year, Our Lady is honored on Saturdays; St. Joseph is honored on Wednesdays.

7. Temptations: Call upon St. Joseph known in the Litany as “Terror of demons.” He will conquer the enemy!

8. Naming a child. If you know a couple expecting a child, why not suggest the name of Joseph or Josephine. What a great blessing to carry the name of St. Joseph; many more blessings that person will indeed receive!

9. Read Matthew 1 & 2. To get to know St. Joseph biblically, two of the key Biblical passages are from the Gospel of St. Matthew—Chapters 1 and 2. Contemplate the Infancy narratives through the eyes of St. Joseph.

10. Read Genesis, Chapters 37-50.  In these few chapters from the first Book of the Bible, Genesis, we encounter Joseph of the Old Testament who is a type of St. Joseph of the New Testament.

 11. “Go to Joseph!”  Words addressed to Old Testament Joseph during the famine in Egypt. Let us go to St. Joseph often with our own problems. He will not fail us!

12. Talk to everybody about St. Joseph. Make it a point to talk to somebody every day—even if for a minute—about the greatness and holiness and power of St. Joseph. This conversation is very pleasing to God.

 13. Wear a shirt in honor of St. Joseph. A picture is worth more than a thousand words; a shirt, more than 10,000 words.

 14. Read up on St. Joseph—five minutes a day! Suggestion? Fr. Calloway’s book of Consecration to St. Joseph.

 15. Read Pope Francis’ Apostolic Letter, Patris Corde on St. Joseph—five minutes a day.

 16. Read Pope St. John Paul II’s Guardian of the Redeemer—Redemptoris Custos—five minutes a day!

 17. Say a short prayer to St. Joseph for fathers, so that they can imitate the great St. Joseph as the model of fathers.

 18. Say a short prayer to St. Joseph for husbands, so that they can imitate the holiness and example of St. Joseph as the perfect husband of Mary.

 19. Say a short prayer to St. Joseph for the families of the world—so much in crisis, now more than ever. May the prayers of St. Joseph fortify families!

 20. Say a short prayer to St. Joseph for the Church. He is the Universal Patron of the Church, proclaimed as such 150 years ago!

21. Receive Holy Communion in honor of St. Joseph. As St. Joseph so lovingly received Jesus as his child, he can help us to receive Jesus in Holy Communion with great tenderness and love.

22. Imitate a virtue of St Joseph that possibly you are struggling to incorporate into your life.

23. Pray to St. Joseph on this day, for purity of mind, heart, body, soul and intention.

24. On this day strive to imitate the silence of St. Joseph. Certainly, this will open your heart to deeper prayer.

25. Strive to work this day imagining St. Joseph is at your side encouraging you and helping you to carry out your work in a way pleasing to God.

26. St. Teresa of Avila gave to St. Joseph the following title: “Master of the Interior Life.” In concrete, this means, Master and Teacher of prayer. Beg St. Joseph to pray with you and pray for you! 

27. Say a short prayer to St. Joseph today for those who are on their deathbed, close to breathing their last. Being the Patron of holy and happy deaths, St. Joseph will be of great assistance.

28. Write a Prayer.  Formulate and write your own personal prayer to the Glorious Saint Joseph. How happy and pleased he will be for this effort on your part!

29. Novena to St. Joseph.  Get in the habit of making novenas to St. Joseph. The Novena—which means nine—can be started at any time and any place. It simply means to do some prayer or gesture in honor of this great saint for nine consecutive days.

30. Beg Jesus and Mary to help you get to know and love St. Joseph better. They were the first two devotees of St. Joseph.

31. Pray and learn this prayer to the Holy Family:

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I give you my heart and my soul.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, make my heart like unto yours.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, assist me in my last agony.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I breathe forth my soul unto thee.
O Sacrament most holy, O Sacrament Divine,
all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine.”

In conclusion, friends in Jesus, Mary and St. Joseph, we offered a very simple way in which we can live out this Year of St. Joseph. Why not start today to offer some small but loving gesture in honor of the Glorious St. Joseph every day of the month. If this is done, the Glorious Saint Joseph, will pray for you, protect you, defend you, support you, love you, and bring you safe one day to the loving embrace of Jesus and Mary in heaven.