Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter

“For greater things you were born.” (Ven. Mother Luisita)

MONDAY, May 30th   Jn 16: 29-33   Alleluia Verse: “If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.”

Yesterday we meditated on the reality of eternity! Death is simply the gateway to our eternal life—either heaven or hell. We choose which one by how we live our life here on earth each day. For any day could be our last day, our last hour, our last moment! This meditation by Fr. Ed helps us to prepare well!

BE PREPARED TO MEET THE LORD JESUS by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

Beyond a shadow of a doubt, the most important moment in our life is the very moment that we die.  How we die, in fact, will determine for all eternity our eternal destiny: either saved or lost, either Heaven or Hell! There is no other possibility.

Among the most common of the topics preached by the saints is that of Eschatology—meditation upon the last things: DEATH, Judgment, Heaven, Hell, Purgatory and the reality of eternity.

In fact, the Doctor of the Church Saint Alphonsus Liguori, who was a most prolific writer, penned a spiritual masterpiece on the topic with the title Preparation for death.

Most important of all teachers and preachers is Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is indeed the Way, the Truth, and the Life, as well as our eternal Master and Teacher. 

Time and time again Jesus exhorts us to be prepared using various images, words, and even Parables. The Master reminds us of death, comparing death to a thief in the night. He also says that it will come like in the time of Noah when all were eating and drinking and the deluge descended suddenly, engulfing and drowning all living creatures—man as well as beast—who did not find refuge in the Ark of safety.

In His Parables, Jesus teaches about the unprepared friends of the Bridegroom, who let the oil in their lamps run out. He also lavishly paints the image of the rich farmer who stores up grain in his more expansive barn only to be taken by surprise, claimed by death that very night. Upon his death, where will all that he has accumulated go? In no uncertain terms, Jesus warns us recurrently that we must be prepared for our own death because we know not the day, the hour, nor the manner in which the phantom of death will come knocking at the door of our lives.

One of the few women Doctors of the Church, the Great Saint Catherine of Siena, stated the unequivocal truth of the matter in these words:  “The two most important moments in our life are now and at the hour of our death.” How similar these words are to the last words of the Hail Mary, and how important it is to invite Mary into our life, especially when we are about to die and make the passage from this life to eternal life. Never should we forget, also, that upon death we go immediately before Jesus in His Judgment Seat. As we pray in the Creed: “He will come to judge the living and the dead.”

Therefore, taking into account the serious nature of the topic of death, and most important, the reality of our own death, let us expound upon practical measures that we all should take to be prepared for the most important moment in our lives—the very moment of our death!  Ironically, we are always preparing for something: Guests, Graduation ceremonies, Weddings, Vacations, Rehearsals, and even our evening dinner. Unfortunately, we give all too little importance to our preparation for our eternal destiny preceded by our death!

We hope and pray that these practical meditation points will serve as a stimulus to take seriously the salvation of your immortal soul by making a concerted effort to truly be prepared for your death that quite possibly will come like a thief in the night.

PRACTICAL WAYS TO BE PREPARED FOR MY DEATH.

1. LIVE EACH DAY AS IF IT WERE YOUR LAST.     

Every morning that you rise from sleep give thanks to God and say your Morning Offering. But then reflect on the real possibility that this could be the Last day of your life. Live each day that God gives you as a Gift, as if it really were to be your last day. That means in concrete do all to please God. As Saint Paul says: “Whether you eat or drink, do all for the honor and glory of God.”

2. FLEE FROM POISON. 

The two worst things that could happen in our lives would be to commit Mortal sin, but worse would  be to die in the state of Mortal sin. Visualize sin, most especially mortal sin, as poison. What poison is to the body, so is mortal sin to the soul—both fatal and deadly!

3. REPENT AND BE CONVERTED.

If in fact we find ourselves in the state of Mortal sin, we should strive all of the fiber of our being and the strength of our will to exit that state. How? First, beg for the grace to make a perfect Act of Contrition; then, as soon as possible, have recourse to making a well-prepared Sacramental Confession. Once done, we have returned to the state of sanctifying grace and Friendship with the Lord Jesus.

4. MEDITATE OFTEN ON THE LAST THINGS. 

Indeed it is very salutary to put it mildly to meditate often, even on a daily basis, on the Last Things. If you like, to coach you on: One day I will die and I do not know when; then Jesus will judge me on all that I have ever done.  It is the moment of truth. The net-result? I will either go to Heaven or Hell and for all eternity. Meditating upon these eternal truths, with the help of God’s grace, can convert that most hardened of all sinners back to God’s grace and friendship.

5. CALL TO MIND UNTIMELY AND SUDDEN DEATHS. 

On a daily basis the News bombards us with death reports, often sudden and unexpected.  Place yourself on the page of that Newspaper because sooner or later, it will be actually be your name written in large letters in the Obituary section of the Newspaper.

6. MEDITATE UPON THE PARABLE OF THE RICH FOOL.

After an abundant Harvest and building new and spacious barns or granaries, he kicks back to relax and enjoy life. Jesus calls this man a fool, and the reason for being a first class fool is because that very night his life will be severed and his possessions of no use to him. Though short and sobering, this Parable cuts to the chase and shows us the ephemeral and transitory character of the human plight of existence!

7. THE BREAD OF LIFE DISCOURSE: MASS AND THE EUCHARIST. 

Read and meditate often upon the “Bread of Life Discourse”. (Jn 6: 25-70) Beg for the grace to be moved to attend daily Mass, inasmuch as it is possible according to your state of life. Then, being in the state of grace, receive Holy Communion with great faith, love, devotion, and hunger. The Promise of Jesus is most consoling: “I am the Bread of Life. Whoever eats my Body and drinks my Blood will have eternal life and I will raise him up on the last day.” Frequent reception of Holy Communion in the state of grace and eternal salvation are synonymous.

8. BEG FOR THE GRACE.  

Saint Augustine states that all of us are truly beggars before God.  We are in desperate need of God’s help and grace in all times and places, and most especially in the hour and moment of our death. Beg Mary, the angels, your Guardian Angel, and all the angels and saints for the grace of all graces, in the words of Saint Alphonsus of Liguori, to die in the state of grace.  Jesus commands us:  “Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you.” (Mt 7:7) Why not ask, seek, and knock for the grace of a holy and happy death and the salvation of your immortal soul.

9. LAST SACRAMENTS AND THE APOSTOLIC PARDON. 

Have it written down and inform your loved ones—your relatives and friends, that in your last moments you desire to receive the three last Sacraments: Confession, Anointing of the Sick, and Viaticum—the Holy Eucharist. Also, specify that you desire to receive from the priest the Apostolic Pardon. By this you receive a Plenary Indulgence in which all your sins are forgiven, as well as any temporal punishment due for your sins is remitted. If done, you will be ready to meet Jesus who will not be so much your Judge, but your loving Savior and Redeemer.

10. OUR LADY: THE HAIL MARY AND THE HOLY ROSARY.  

Starting right now get in the habit of praying the Hail Mary, better yet, pray the most Holy Rosary. Indeed, every time you pray the Rosary you are actually preparing yourself for death 50 times!!!! That’s right, preparation for death 50 times in every Holy Rosary prayed! The proof? We say with each Hail Mary: “Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.” If we seriously form the habit of the daily recitation of the most Holy Rosary to the Blessed Virgin Mary, then when we are dying Mary herself will come close to us and help us to die repent of our sins, trusting in Jesus’s Infinite Mercy, and loving Him until the end. Our Lady will never fail her faithful friends, those who have faithfully prayed the most Holy Rosary.

In conclusion, let us pray for each other for the grace of all graces and that is to die in the state of sanctifying grace. If done, our soul will be saved and we will live to love, praise and worship God with the angels and saints for all eternity. “Holy Mary, Mother of God pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.”

Seventh Sunday of Easter – Ascension

“For greater things you were born.” (Ven. Mother Luisita)

SUNDAY, May 29th   Lk 24: 46-53   “He led them out as far as Bethany, raised his hands, and blessed them. As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven.”

As we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord Jesus, let us reflect on our future, particularly with regards to our death and eternity! May Fr. Ed’s meditation motivate us to work hard in this life for our eternal salvation and the salvation of many others!

ETERNITY—FOREVER AND EVER AND EVER! By Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

One of the most important concepts that motivated saints to work hard for the Kingdom of God and for the salvation of immortal souls is the reality of eternity.

What is eternity? Very simply eternity is forever and ever and ever and never any end. Our time on earth is temporal—meaning that it will quickly come to an end. With the reality of eternity must be added our ultimate destiny—either heaven or hell, no other possibility! Meditating on ETERNITY is a powerful reflection to help us to change our lives, to give up our sinful habits, and to renew our desire to become saints as Jesus reminds us: “Be holy as your heavenly Father is holy.” (Mt. 5:48)

CATECHETICAL STORY.  Try to imagine a small bird with a huge task. The bird has to sweep down over the shore and swipe up a grain of sand. With that grain of sand in his beak, he must fly all the way to the planet Saturn and drop the grain of sand on that distant planet. Then he must fly back to planet earth. Having arrived at planet earth, the little bird must sweep down and grab on to another grain of sand and once again fly back to Saturn and once arrived drop the grain of sand on that planet. This the little bird will have to do this until all of the grains of sand on planet earth have been transferred to the distant planet Saturn. Once the bird has completed this monumental task, eternity is merely beginning.

SHORTNESS OF LIFE.  Related to eternity is the utter shortness or brevity of our life on earth. The Bible, the Word of God, gives us a few clear images for our contemplation. “Our life on earth is like the flower of the field that sprouts up in the morning and withers and dies as the sun goes down.” (Ps 103: 15-16) Saint Augustine gives us another graphic image, the Doctor of Grace on eternity states: “Our life in comparison with eternity is a mere blink of the eye.” The Word of God also compares our life on earth to a breath of smoke. You see it for a brief moment and then it is gone! (ref James 4:14)

VANITY OF VANITIES!  As the Word of God teaches us, “Vanity of vanity, all is vanity” (Eccles 1:2) if it is not related to our ultimate purpose in life which is to be united with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit forever—that means for eternity—in Heaven!

WORDS OF A SAINT AND ETERNITY

Saint Anthony Mary Claret comments on the effect that eternity left on him, even in the tender years of his childhood. He says: The first ideas I can remember date back to when I was five years old. When I went to bed, instead of sleeping—I never have been much of a sleeper—I used to think about eternity. I would think forever, forever, forever. I would try to imagine enormous distances and pile still more distances upon these and realize that they would never come to an end. Then I would shudder and ask myself if those who were so unhappy as to go to an eternity of pain would ever see an end to their suffering. Would they have to go on suffering? Yes, forever and forever they would have to bear their pain. This troubled me deeply, for I am by nature very compassionate. The idea of an eternity of torment made such a deep impression upon me, either because of the tenderness that it evoked in me or because of the many times I thought about it, that it is surely the thing that to this day I remember best. The power of this idea has made me work in the past, still makes me work. And will make me work as long as I live, in converting sinners, in preaching, in hearing confessions, in writing books, in distributing holy cards and pamphlets. And in having familiar conversations.” (Saint Anthony Mary Claret, AUTOBIOGRAPHY, #’s 8-9 Claretian Publications, Chicago, 1976)

The sober but penetrating thought of eternity should move us to a deep conversion of life. We would like to offer five ways that ETERNITY can bring us to live out Jesus’ first command in His Public life: “Be converted because the Kingdom of God is at hand.” (Mt 3:2)

1. SHORTNESS OF LIFE. 

Our limited time on earth in comparison to eternity is barely anything. Our life is like the flower of the field that rises in the morning and withers and dies as the sun goes down. Let us be wise and recognize the fleeting, ephemeral and transitory character of our human existence! Reflection on eternity can help us to grow in wisdom—giving true value and importance to what is most important in life!

2. UNCERTAINTY OF OUR LIFE AND DEATH. 

None of us can pinpoint with mathematical certainty the day, the hour, or the moment of our death. This lies in the Providential design of our loving and caring Father. However, it is the epitome of foolishness to be living in a state of mortal sin separated from God. We are playing “Russian Roulette” with our eternal salvation, as well as falling into the sin of presumption, stating by this sinful lifestyle that we have many years or at least more time to live. None of us knows this for certain. Our life can end like the coming of the thief in the night. (ref: 1 Thess 5:2) At the moment we least expect, the Lord can call us to be judged. The thought of eternity can be a huge motivational force to confess our sins regularly, particularly mortal sins! Upon committing a mortal sin, make a perfect Act of Contrition, and go to confession as soon as possible! Upon committing a mortal sin, make a perfect Act of Contrition, and go to confession as soon as possible!

3. THE STAKES ARE HIGH.

Either we will be saved or lost for all eternity. It is eternal salvation and joy with God in heaven, or it is eternal damnation and suffering in hell with the damned and the devils. There is no other possibility. Again, this reality is eternal—forever and ever and ever. Remember Saint Augustine: “Our life on earth in comparison to eternity is a mere blink of the eye!”

4. APOSTOLIC ZEAL: DESIRE TO WORK FOR THE SALVATION OF SOULS. 

The acute awareness of eternity—forever and ever and ever—and the possibility of our loved ones losing God forever and ever and ever— can be a potent force in our lives to work out our salvation in fear and trembling, as well as to collaborate with God for the salvation of many other souls, most especially our loved ones! Recall the words of the Angelic Doctor, Saint Thomas Aquinas: “One soul is worth more than the whole created universe.” God desires that every soul be saved and redeemed by the Precious Blood that Jesus shed on the cross on Good Friday!

5. DETACHMENT. 

The sober but all-pervading realism of ETERNITY can move us to detach ourselves from all that is an impediment to reaching our goal in life which is heaven. First and foremost, eternity can help us to renounce sin in our lives, which is mortal enemy number one! Mortal sin kills the life of God within us! Venial sin weakens God’s grace in our soul and can dispose us and pave the way to mortal sin. Another step in detachment from sin—the thought of eternity can help us to renounce even our disordered attachments that prevent us from soaring to the heights of our spiritual life like an eagle! What might be these attachments? Saint Ignatius in his consideration Principle and Foundation (#23 Spiritual Exercises) states that we should not prefer long life to short life, health to sickness, riches to poverty, honors to humiliations, but to choose what is most conducive to the purpose of our existence—the glory of God and the eternal salvation of our immortal soul! Indeed, if we cling to the things of the world, then we cannot cling to God. May the reality of eternity sever our attachment to sin and every other thing that can impede our spiritual ascension!

May Our Lady, the Mother of God, the Mother of the Church, and our loving Mother help us to meditate frequently on ETERNITY and have our minds, hearts and souls focused on God—the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit who await us eagerly in heaven, our eternal home!

Saturday of the Sixth Week of Easter

“For greater things you were born.” (Ven. Mother Luisita)

SATURDAY, May 28th   Jn 16: 23b-28   “Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.”

Saturday is Mary’s Day. Mary is the quickest, shortest and easiest route to the Heart of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. For Mary is the daughter of the God the Father, the Mother of God the Son, and the Mystical Spouse of God the Holy Spirit!

GROWING IN FAITH THROUGH THE HOLY ROSARY by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

Jesus sent His Loving Mother, Mary most holy, from heaven to the small town of Fatima, in Portugal in the year 1917. The Queen of heaven and earth appeared to three little shepherd children, Lucia de los Santos and Francisco and Jacinta Marto—brother and sister.

Our Lady appeared six times and every time that she appeared she repeated the message: PRAY THE ROSARY! She revealed her name and identity as OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY. In Lourdes, Our Lady appeared 18 times to Saint Bernadette, and revealed her name and identity as THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION.

Therefore, we would like to present ten reasons why we should form the most important habit of praying the Rosary, not sporadically or sometimes or simply upon an impulse. Rather, we should form the habit of praying the most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary every day; if possible, we could even pray the Rosary more than once a day, as was often the habit in the lives of many of the saints! Therefore, let us launch into reasons to convince us of the dire importance of loving Our Lady, by loving what she loves, and obeying her command—pray the holy Rosary!

1. OUR LADY TOLD US TO!  If a mother repeats an order to her child many times, it is because the mother believes in the depths of her heart that the order she is commanding is of great importance. Likewise, Mary most Holy, the Mother of God and our Mother too, at Fatima commanded the children, as well as the world at large, six times to pray the Rosary! If it is a command to obey our earthly mothers (the 4th Commandment), how much more should we obey our Heavenly Mother, Mary most Holy!

2. THE ROSARY IS A BIBLICAL PRAYER.  Many non-Catholics condemn the recitation of the Holy Rosary. However, very few of those who condemn this most beautiful prayer realize or recognize the fact that the Rosary is a prayer that almost totally has its origins in the Word of God itself! For example, the first series of Mysteries that we call the Joyful Mysteries are all of them found in the Gospel of Saint Luke, Chapters One and Two! This being said, we can get to know and love the Word of God by meditating upon the Mysteries of the Holy Rosary!

3. GETTING TO KNOW, LOVE AND IMITATE JESUS BETTER.  Saint Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits, and the instrument God used to give us the Spiritual Exercises, offers us a fruit that we should beg for when we meditate on or contemplate the life of Jesus; that fruit, or we might call it virtue, is to arrive at intimate knowledge of Jesus, so that we love Him more ardently and follow Him more closely. In a parallel sense, when we form the habit of praying the Rosary well, giving our whole self to entering into the scenes or mysteries of the Rosary, one of the most sublime fruits is the same that Ignatius presents. In praying the Rosary, we get to know Jesus, love Jesus, and desire to follow Jesus through the prayers and intercession of the first disciple of Jesus, His Mother Mary!

4. SUMMARY OF THE GOSPEL.  Recent Popes, Blessed Paul VI and Saint John XXIII called the Rosary a summary of the Gospel. This was said even before the insertion of the relatively new mysteries of the Rosary, The Luminous Mysteries. In a short, clear, methodical and systematic form we have the Infancy of Jesus in the Joyful Mysteries; followed by the Luminous Mysteries, which are a good summary of the Public Life of Jesus (30-33 years of age). Then we have the Passion, suffering and death of Jesus in the Sorrowful Mysteries. Finally, as the summit of the whole prayer, we have the Glorious Mysteries, which of course present Our Lord’s Resurrection and Ascension into heaven, the Coming of the Holy Spirit, and Our Lady’s Assumption into heaven and Coronation as Queen of heaven and earth. As the Popes have alluded to, contemplation of the mysteries of the most Holy Rosary presents a clear and concise summary of the Gospels—the conception, life, death and Resurrection of Jesus seen through the eyes and heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

5. MARVELOUS PRAYER THAT CAN LIFT US TO THE HEIGHTS.  The Rosary is indeed a marvelous prayer that can lift us to the heights of holiness if prayed well and with perseverance. This prayer is vocal in that we vocalize the beautiful prayers, the Our Father and Hail Mary. Then it is a meditative prayer in that we reflect upon the meaning of the mysteries and how they can be applied to our own lives right now. Furthermore, it is a contemplative prayer, meaning that we are summoned to enter into the scenes or mysteries of the lives of Jesus and Mary. We are not called to be passive spectators, like going to a movie; rather we are called to enter into these contemplative scenes and become part of the lives of Jesus and Mary! If this is done, we become transformed. The saying is true: tell me with whom you associate and I will tell you who you are. How true if we apply this to our frequent association, contact and conversation with Jesus and Mary and Saint Joseph! We will be transformed, becoming more like them. Our desire and goal are the words of the great Apostle Saint Paul: “It is no longer I who lives, but Christ who lives in me.” (Gal 2:20-21)

6. PRAYER OF PEACE OF MIND, HEART AND SOUL, AND WORLD PEACE.  In a world in which there is so much tension, fighting, selfishness, and egotism, we need a peace-program. Of course the key element is to expel the negative with the most positive, and that is to place Jesus and Mary as King and Queen of our world, country, state, city, home, family, and even our individual lives and hearts! At Fatima Our Lady insisted that the Rosary be prayed to end World War I and also to prevent another war. Our Lady made the warning that if the world did not pray enough, another and worse world war would erupt. And so it happened! Sad to say, not many years after the cessation of World War I, the more bloody and gruesome World War II broke out. Sin is due to a lack of the presence of God. The recitation of the most Holy Rosary is the opposite. We invite Jesus into our hearts, families and society through the prayerful, peaceful, but powerful presence of Our Lady, Queen of Peace!

7. CONQUERING VICES.  Sin can get a hold of us, and we become slaves to sin. Jesus Himself says that sin is slavery. A well-known convert once said that before becoming Catholic, he liked going to book stores to look over the books and buy some of them. However, while there, no matter how hard he tried, he could not resist, almost as if he were drawn by a magnet, checking out and browsing through the bad magazines. Though he was still a Protestant, he started to pray the most Holy Rosary, and immediately, his desire to look at the indecent magazines left him totally. He attributed this miracle to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Holy Rosary. Among the many virtues that Our Lady desires to attain for us is the virtue of purity. One of Our Lady’s messages in Fatima was that most souls are lost for all eternity due to the sins of the flesh, that is to say, sins against the virtue of purity. Jesus expressed this most clearly in one of the Beatitudes: “Blessed are the pure of heart; they will see God.” (Mt 5:8)

8. FAMILY UNITY.  One of the most sorrowful realities in the modern world is the breakup of the family unit. Vatican II calls the family the domestic church. Pope Saint John Paul II says “the family is the basic cell of society, and as the family goes, so goes the rest of society.” After the attack on the World Trade Center, Sept. 11^th 2001, Pope Saint John Paul II published a spiritual masterpiece with the title Blessed Virgin Mary and the Rosary. We encourage all of our readers to read and meditate upon this spiritual masterpiece so as to get to know and love the most Holy Rosary more and more. In this papal document the saintly pontiff encouraged the world at large to pray the Rosary, but especially for two intentions. First, he exhorted us to pray the Rosary for world peace. Second, he warmly encouraged us to pray the Rosary for the sake and salvation of the family. The Rosary priest, Father Patrick Peyton, expresses this truth in these timely maxims: “The family that prays together stays together” and, “A world at prayer is a world at peace!” This being said, every family should make a concerted effort to pray the Rosary together for the sake of their own family, as well as for all the families of the world, and that peace would reign in the world starting first and foremost within our own individual hearts!

9. THE ROSARY AS SPIRITUAL SLINGSHOT TO CONQUER THE DEVIL.  In one of the most important meditations in the Spiritual Exercises, with the title The Two Standards, Saint Ignatius presents our spiritual life in the light of a fierce combat between Satan and his disciples fighting against Jesus and His disciples for dominion in our souls! Given today’s materialism, consumerism, hedonism, agnosticism, moral relativism, and militant atheism, the devil can hide behind each of these erroneous philosophical systems to trap us and finally enslave us! It almost appears as if we are David against Goliath (I Samuel 17)!

David was much younger and smaller, with no military preparation, no sword, no shield, nor even any armor. On the other hand, Goliath was a giant, with much experience in battle, wearing armor and wielding a huge crescent sword that he had used to kill many, with a shield bearer preceding him. Goliath curses little David, but David proceeds with confidence in the name of Yahweh, the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. The little shepherd boy approaches the line of battle quickly and resolutely reaches for a stone, places it in his slingshot and launches it at Goliath. The stone takes off like a rocket and rivets itself in the forehead of Goliath, who quickly cascades to the ground. As the giant lays unconscious on the ground, David wields the sword of Goliath and cuts off his head! Victory!!!

Today we are surrounded by many Modern Goliaths, as mentioned and named above. Therefore, for us to win the fierce battle, we must place ourselves under the military leadership of the Blessed Virgin Mary, carry proudly our spiritual weapon— the most Holy Rosary, and use it frequently and confidently. We have sure hope with such a weapon and so great a leader that the battle will be won and the victory will be ours!

10. SPIRITUAL TREASURES STORED UP IN HEAVEN. One of the greatest saint-mystics in the Catholic Church is Saint Gertrude, the Great. Not only is she the author of the classic Herald of Divine Love (read it!!!), but also she was a great mystic and visionary. Jesus often would appear to her and talk to her with great familiarity and love, as He desires to do with us. On one occasion, the saint saw Jesus in heaven. The scene was beautiful! Bathed in light and beauty, Jesus had a huge pile of coins, shiny and glimmering golden coins. As Saint Gertrude contemplate this scene, Jesus placed another golden coin on the top of the huge pile. Curious as to the meaning of the scene, this great lover of Jesus and Mary, Saint Gertrude, begged the Lord to explain its meaning. Without any hesitation Jesus said that those golden coins were the many fervent Hail Marys that Gertrude had prayed, and that she had just finished another, upon which Jesus was depositing another golden coin for all eternity. Therefore, if you want to be a multi-billionaire in heaven, start right now and pray the Rosary, pray the Hail Marys that compose the Rosary. Indeed, Jesus through the intercession Mary, His Mother, the Mother of the Church, and your loving Mother, will store up for you abundant treasures in heaven.

Friday of the Sixth Week of Easter

“For greater things you were born.” (Ven. Mother Luisita)

FRIDAY, May 27th   Jn 16: 20-23   Alleluia Verse: “Christ had to suffer and to rise from the dead, and so enter into his glory.”

We contemplate a little one who chose to walk in the footsteps of Christ, to suffer for the salvation of souls in this life, so as to rise with Christ in glory! May her witness inspire us!

JACINTA MARTO: PEARL OF GREAT PRICE! By Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

Having passed the 100^th Anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima to the three shepherd children—Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta, it is more than propitious that we write on the topic of Fatima. In fact, Pope Francis has encouraged this most noble undertaking!

The message is so broad, expansive, evangelical, impressive, and inspiring, as well as extraordinarily simple, that we will focus in this short article on one aspect of the message of Fatima. More than an aspect, better said, we will focus on one person who was involved in the message of Fatima, and it is the person of Jacinta; her full name being JACINTA MARTO!

For sake of brevity, we would like to focus on what we believe to be the so called “Conversion” of Jacinta Marto. Indeed, we can now call her SAINT JACINTA MARTO, because she was canonized, with her older brother Francisco, on May 13, 2017 by Pope Francis—among the youngest saints in the Church Calendar!

By nature Jacinta was extroverted, joyful, exhilarant, expansive, playful as well as competitive, a lover of dance, and simply a lover of life! In a word, she was a typical good little girl, somewhat prayerful, a good daughter, and a good sister. However, there was nothing really extraordinary about her person and nature until something happened that radically transformed her life forever!

YEAR 1916.  In the year 1916, Jacinta, Francisco, and Lucia, all of them shepherds, had a visitation by an angel, actually three times. This angel taught them how to pray, what to say in prayer, and a posture in prayer—that of prostration!

YEAR 1917.  May 13 of the following year 1917, the three children were visited by a woman dressed in white; it was the Blessed Virgin Mary. Our Lady would actually appear to them six times in total, culminating in October with the great miracle of the sun witnessed by more than 70, 000 people!

CONVERSION.  One of the highlights and key notes of the preaching of Jesus, Saint John the Baptist, as well as Saint Peter in his Pentecost discourse, is the call to conversion. “Be converted, the Kingdom of God is at hand” (Mk 1:15) was actually the first words we have of Jesus in His Public ministry. There are two forms of conversion—the radical conversion of Saint Matthew who left all to follow Christ, as well as Saul of Tarsus who encountered Christ on the road to Damascus. Then there is the slow and painful process of conversion that we all have to work at on a daily basis.

RADICAL CONVERSION OF JACINTA MARTO.  Basically Jacinta was a good girl all of her life. However, there was a specific event that happened to her, as well as to her brother Francisco and cousin Lucia, that would leave an indelible mark on Jacinta’s soul and radically transform her total life. When and what happened to change this little girl’s life? It was during the third apparition of Our Lady on July 13, 1917. In this most powerful apparition, Our Lady revealed to these three little shepherd children a graphic vision of HELL. Our Lady opened up her hands and it was as if the earth opened its mouth. The children could see what appeared to be a lake or even sea of immense fire. In it they could see the damned souls—some were transparent, others bronze, still others brown, and finally some were pitch black. Many souls seemed to be floating without any equilibrium, like balloons blown by the wind with no anchoring. Also, the children perceived hideous animals that were transpiercing the souls; these were the devils. In addition to this, the children could hear the cries of despair of the damned souls. This graphic and Dantesque vision of hell seen by the children never left their memories and would move them to acts of heroic virtue in the realm of sacrifice. One more note: the children said they would have died of fear if the Blessed Virgin were not present there with them. However, the Blessed Virgin Mary wanted them to experience this vision, as well as the world at large! Why? From this came conversion!

JACINTA’S CONVERSION.  From that moment on Jacinta Marto would never be the same. Indeed, it was this graphic and unforgettable vision of hell on July 13, 1917 that would change her heart, her actions, and her life in its totality. Saint Pope John Paul II, in the beatification process of Jacinta and Francisco on May 13, 2000, gave them each a specific title which really exemplified the essence of their charisms, indeed the essence of their sanctity. The Pontiff called Francisco “A Little Mystic”. Whereas Jacinta he called “A Little Victim Soul”.  What then is this so called “victim soul”?  Such a soul offers themself to God in order to generously offer sacrifices, as well as to accept the sufferings sent by God, primarily for the sake of souls: the conversion of poor sinners and the salvation of their immortal souls. Saint Padre Pio, Saint Therese, Josefa Menendez—all of these were victim souls. Therefore, after the vision of hell viewed by Jacinta with Francisco and Lucia, Jacinta was imbued and permeated with an insatiable desire to save souls, especially poor sinners, from the horrendous but all too real place of hell. The Catholic Church has always taught that any person who dies unrepentant in the state of mortal sin is condemned to the chastisement of hell and for all eternity. Indeed, the only one to blame is that particular soul for having chosen of their own free will to commit mortal sin, live in mortal sin, and die unrepentant in mortal sin! Jacinta Marto could not forget the pain, the suffering, the anguish, the despair of those many souls that she saw in this apparent sea of fire, tortured at the same time by the many hideous devils. This graphic vision shown to her by the Blessed Virgin Mary would move Jacinta to the practice of heroic virtue in the realm of sacrifice. Let us now look into the many sacrifices undertaken by this “Little Victim Soul”, Saint Jacinta Marto.                        

THE HEROIC SACRIFICES OF JACINTA: MOTIVATION FOR ALL OF US!!!  Jacinta Marto had no formal education; she could neither read nor write. Her First Communion was given through the hands of an angel from heaven in 1916. She had no degree in theology and only knew the basics of her catechism. However, she had two excellent teachers who would lift her up to the heights of holiness in a very short period of a little more than two years. Who were these teachers? The Blessed Virgin Mary and the Holy Spirit. Let us summarily outline the voluntary sacrifices of this little shepherd girl.

1. One of the favorite past times of Jacinta was to dance; she simply loved to dance. For the sake of the salvation of souls, Jacinta willingly gave up dancing for the rest of her life!

2. Jacinta’s favorite food was the luscious and sweet grapes of the Portuguese hills and vineyards. Indeed, she loved to eat these grapes. Once again, like the dancing, she decided that she would give up these grapes, and in place of them, eat the bitter herbs and nuts from the field—a huge sacrifice. All of this done to save souls from the fires of hell!

3. She wore her normal, modest clothes. However, Jacinta, as well as Francisco and Lucia, made a hidden sacrifice that was seen by God alone and it was the ROPE. Beneath their clothes they fastened a rope around their waists. This caused them considerable discomfort during the course of the day. Our Lady told them to take it off at night so that they could at least have a good night’s repose.

4. On their way to the fields where they would tend their sheep, the three children would often bump into poorer children who had barely anything at all to eat. The three children would willingly offer their lunches to the poor children to eat, and thereby suffer hunger themselves during the course of the day. Why? For this simple reason, to bar the gates of hell for many poor sinners!

5. Climate: Heat! They would tend the sheep in the midst of the summer heat and offer up the heat. Hell, of course, is much worse, and it is forever and ever and ever!

6. On one occasion, in the middle of summer, the heat and humidity were so intense that the children were almost dying of thirst. Therefore, Lucia went to a nearby household and asked for water. She was given a pitcher of water to share with Francisco and Jacinta. When Lucia arrived with the water, the two decided that they would prefer to suffer the heat and humidity and not drink the refreshing water. Why? Once again, this sacrifice could be offered for the conversion of poor sinners, so that they would be saved from the eternal fires of hell. Consequently, Lucia poured the contents of water onto the ground. All of them went thirsty. They had a greater thirst for the eternal salvation of immortal souls; like Jesus, who cried out on the cross: I THIRST!!!

7. In the same context, one day Jacinta could hear the crickets sounding, and her head was pounding, so she started to complain. Francisco quickly intervened and reminded Jacinta that she could even offer up her headache as a sacrifice for the conversion and salvation of poor sinners. Jacinta quickly stopped complaining and did as her brother suggested!

8. Eventually the crowds would come and pester the children with interminable questions about what they saw and heard. Once again Jacinta would offer this suffering as a sacrifice for the salvation of souls.

9. Rosary in its totality. Early on the three children would obey their parents and pray the Rosary, however, in an abbreviated fashion, in which they would just say the first two words of the Our Father and the Hail Mary, so that they could proceed to their play as soon as possible. After the graphic and unforgettable vision of hell and the damned sinners, not only did the children pray the whole Rosary, but they prayed many Rosaries during the course of the day. Indeed, such was the love and thirst that the children had, but especially Jacinta, to collaborate with God in the salvation of immortal souls!

10. Sickness and Death. Our Lady had asked the children if they would be willing to suffer and sacrifice for the salvation of souls. The spokesperson, Lucia, responded with a generous YES for herself and in the name of the other two. Of course this suffering and sacrifice would result in the early deaths of both Francisco, who died first, and then Jacinta. Our Lady even asked Jacinta if she was willing to suffer a little more for souls? Jacinta said “yes”! One of the most painful elements of the death of little Jacinta was the fact that she basically died alone. The hospital was distant from her parents’ home and they could not make it easily to this destination. Therefore, in the last days and last hours of the death of this little Victim Soul, she died alone without the presence of any of her family members. This calls to mind one of the last words of Jesus as He hung upon the cross: “My God, My God, why hast thou abandoned me?” (Mt 27:46) To a limited degree, Jesus shared with this heroic child a part of His bitter passion. In a certain sense we can say that Jacinta went through the dark night of the soul as she suffered in the hospital, distant from all her loved ones. Do not forget that Jacinta’s nature was sociable, extroverted, expansive and she simply loved to be with people, especially her loved ones!

We conclude our short essay on the truly admirable person of Saint Jacinta Marto. Indeed worthy of note and reflection are the following about Jacinta:

(1) CHILDREN. Jesus said: “Let the little children come to me, for as such is the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Mt 19:14) Jesus has a great love for children!

(2) HOLINESS. Even small children can become saints if they are properly formed by their parents!

(3) MARY AS TEACHER AND GUIDE. Jacinta placed herself as a pupil or student at the disposition of Mary. May we place ourselves in the school of Mary!

(4) LOVE AND SACRIFICE. Jacinta teaches us that true and authentic love is measured by our willingness to suffer and sacrifice for the salvation of others!

(5) THE SOUL. One immortal soul has great value; it was redeemed by the Blood of Jesus!

(6) HELL. The radical conversion of little Jacinta came about after witnessing a graphic vision of hell displayed by the Blessed Virgin Mary!

(7) ETERNITY. Jacinta would ask Lucia if Hell would one day cease to exist, and Lucia would respond, Hell is forever and ever and ever!

(8) SHORTNESS OF LIFE. Both Jacinta and Francisco would be dead in less than two and a half years after the last apparition of Our Lady. We know neither the day nor the hour when God will call us; death will come like a thief in the night!

(9) HEROIC SACRIFICES. These little children were motivated to make truly heroic sacrifices to save souls from hell. We too are called to sacrifice ourselves to save sinners from falling off the precipice into hell!

(10) LOVE!!! When all is said and done we will be judged on love. However, love is measured not simply by words, but by concrete actions. Jacinta said she loved God and proved it by an outpouring of heroic sacrifices to save poor sinners from the fiery pit of hell!!!

Saint Francisco Marto, pray for us. Saint Jacinta Marto, pray for us. Our Lady of Fatima pray for us and the conversion of poor sinners. Amen.

Memorial of Saint Philip Neri, Priest

“For greater things you were born.” (Ven. Mother Luisita)

THURSDAY, May 26th   Lk 16: 16-20   “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices, you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.”

Jesus is indeed our Joy in all times and all places, for after the trials and sufferings of this life, there is a Resurrection!

EASTER GIVES TRUE MEANING TO LIFE & DEATH by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

The winter snows melt and spring flowers blossom emanating their beautiful fragrance. The sharp thorns fade and the red rose sprouts with exquisite beauty. These are merely analogies in nature of the greatest of all events: the Resurrection of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! 

Of greater value by far, a hardened sinner moved by grace, renouncing sin, reforming his life, and falling in love with the Person of Jesus the Lord becomes a great saint. This is only possible through the power of grace communicated through the Paschal mystery—the Passion, death and Resurrection of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Such saints knew that Jesus indeed died, but He rose from the dead on the third day. He rose never to die again. This reality of the Resurrection has a huge impact on the whole of humanity, and on each and every one of us in particular.

We shall look at ten of the graces that flow from the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

1. Life in Abundance

Death is not the last word, but beyond the grave there is life and life in abundance. The atheist, or agnostic lives a life of hopeless despair. Not the believer— Eternal life, life to the fullest awaits the true followers of Christ.

2. Hope

Despite all of the trials, afflictions, tribulations, contradictions in life, the belief in Jesus’ Risen life fills us with hope!

3. Heaven

The reason for an abounding hope is the firm belief in heaven that is right around the corner. Jesus promised heaven to all believers and doers of His word. “I go now to prepare a place for you so that where I am you might also be. In my Fathers’ home there are many mansions. If it were not so, I would not tell you so.” (Jn 14:3)

4. Joy

St. Ignatius, in the Spiritual Exercises of the fourth week, brings us into contact with the Risen Jesus, and Ignatius insists that we beg not only for Joy, but for the most Intense Joy. Joy is a powerful motivation to carry out great apostolic endeavors for the Lord!

5. A Family Reunion

The Risen Lord promises His faithful followers heaven and that means that we will be reunited with our loved ones and the saints who have preceded us. It will be an endless banquet of the best of friends meeting and enjoying each other’s company for all eternity!

6. Suffering

Human nature recoils from suffering! However, in the light of the Risen Lord, not only does suffering have meaning but it also has eternal value. That said, suffering has value only inasmuch as it is united to the suffering, Passion, death and Resurrection of Jesus. If united to Christ’s suffering, our suffering purifies, humbles, exalts, sanctifies, and prepares us for eternal glory. As Christians we must follow Christ, the whole way, from the hill of Calvary to the glory of the Risen Lord! Jesus revealed to St. Faustina that the angels experience a holy envy for the human person and for two reasons: we can receive Holy Communion and we can suffer—meaning we can reap abundant fruit by uniting our suffering with the sufferings of Jesus—for our salvation and the salvation of many others!

7. Life and Eternal Life

The impact of the Lord’s Resurrection shows us how ephemeral, transitory and fleeting the human condition can be. It also shows us the eternity of Heaven and our life with the Risen Lord. Even the greatest and longest sufferings cannot be compared to eternal life with Our Lord. St. Paul expresses this beautifully: “Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has it entered into the mind of man the wonderful things that God has prepared for those who love Him.”  (1 Cor 2:9)   

8. Self Control in Dignity

Life in the light of the Risen Lord challenges us to live a life of sobriety, self-restraint, and self-control. Why? Our bodies are destined to be united with the Lord, the Blessed Virgin Mary, the angels and the saints. Therefore, we must live according to our dignity, our destiny, and our definition as persons—temples of the Holy Trinity by the grace of the Resurrection and our Baptism.

9. The Eucharist and the Bread of Life Discourse (John 6:25-71)

Never can we separate the meaning of the Risen Lord Jesus from the reality of Jesus truly and substantially present in every Holy Mass, in every Consecration, and in every Holy Communion. In this sacrifice, we remember Jesus’ promise of heaven related to Holy Communion, the Bread of life. Listen and meditate upon Jesus’ sublime and awesome words and promise: “I am the Bread of Life, whoever eats my body and drinks my blood, will have eternal life and I will raise him up on the last day.”

10. Mary & the Risen Christ

The Blessed Virgin Mary, through her prayers and intercession, illuminates the Mystery of Easter. Crestfallen, crushed, overwhelmed by sorrow, forlorn and despairing—these words serve to express the interior attitude of the Apostles and disciples of Jesus when confronted with the reality of the Crucifixion of Jesus on that first Good Friday. In other words, their hopes in Jesus were totally shattered! In spite of all of this, there was one who did not give into despair: it was the Blessed Virgin Mary. Beyond a doubt, her suffering was incomparable to any other—save that of Jesus the Lord. However, hope reigned supreme in the sorrowful, Immaculate and trusting Heart of Mary. For this reason, St. Ignatius of Loyola, in the Spiritual Exercises, has Jesus appearing first to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Mary, the Mother of the Risen Lord, was indeed the first to contemplate the Risen Lord Jesus in all His glory!   

Therefore, in our contemplation of the mystery of the Risen Lord Jesus, we must lift up our eyes to Mary and beg her for the grace to penetrate with greater depth the reality of this supreme and sublime mystery. Therein lies our Hope and our Joy for all eternity!