Friday of the First Week of Lent

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

FRIDAY, February 26th   Mt. 5: 20-26   Gospel Verse: “Cast away from you all the crimes you have committed, says the LORD, and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.”

• A powerful way to make for ourselves a new heart and a new spirit is to pray for others! May the following reflections redound to the salvation of many, as well as our own salvation!
• “Whoever brings back a sinner from the error of his ways will save his soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.” (Jas. 5:20)

WHOM SHOULD WE PRAY FOR? By Fr. Ed. Broom, OMV

*Note: Reflections for self-examination added.

God is always attentive to the humble supplication of a pure and sincere heart. Jesus commanded us to pray with these words: “Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Mt. 7:7) Therefore, obeying the command of the Lord Himself we should ask, seek, and knock trusting that we will be heard and our prayers granted.

Prayer is an open communication with God; prayer is a conversation with Someone whom we know listens to us and loves us most ardently; prayer is communication and dialogue with a Friend; prayer is the pious lifting up of the mind and the heart to God. What air is to the lungs, so prayer is to the soul; it is essential! The great Saint Augustine expresses prayer using this poetic and rhythmic expression: “He who prays well, lives well; he who lives well, dies well; he who dies well, all is well.” In other words, the salvation of our immortal soul depends upon a fervent and dynamic prayer life.

Still, there is the burning question: then whom should we pray for? Is there a certain hierarchy or list in priority as to whom we should pray for first? The response: we can and should pray for everybody in the entire world. This for the simple reason that God created all people on the face of the earth to know Him, love Him, and serve Him in this life, so as to be happy with Him in Heaven. All were created for eternal Beatitude—meaning happiness—in heaven.

A group of persons very dear to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, as well as the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, would be sinners, especially those sinners whose souls are in most danger of being lost for all eternity.

Our Lady of Fatima, as well as Our Lady of Lourdes, insisted on prayer, but most especially praying for the conversion of poor sinners. After each decade of the Rosary, Our Lady of Fatima insisted that we pray: “O my Jesus, forgive us our sins; save us from the fires of hell and lead all souls to heaven, especially those most in need of your mercy.”

Therefore, so as to enrich our prayer of intercession we will propose a list of certain sinners that we should have most close to our heart as we pray. We might use Saint Monica as a model for prayer of intercession for the conversion of sinners. Due to her prayers, her mother-in-law, her husband Patricius, and finally her wayward son Augustine—all of them were converted, and of course Augustine became a great saint!

REFLECTION: Let us note that because of Monica’s persevering prayer for the conversion of her son, her husband and even her mother-in-law, we now know her as Saint Monica.

 Whom Should We Pray For?

1. Those Blind to Their Condition.
We should lift up our prayers on high for that group of persons—and there are many, very many today—who actually deny that they have any sins whatsoever. Pope Pius XII asserted: “The sin of the century is the loss of the sense of sin.” Jesus came to save sinners. If we deny that we are sinners, then how can Jesus the Savior actually save us. Never forget: Jesus came to save sinners!

REFLECTION: We all have blind spots in our spiritual life. Beg the Holy Spirit to show us our blind spots – sins we commit that we justify, made excuses for. This is a prayer the Holy Spirit will not fail to answer for those who sincerely desire to know.

2. Slaves to addiction.
On our list of priorities, we should definitely implore the Lord’s abundant mercy for those who are slaves to addictions, those who seem unable to break the chains of sin that are enslaving them. Addictions today are many: drugs, drink, sex, porn, gambling, buying, stealing, and many more. May Jesus attain for them the true freedom of the sons and daughters of God by helping them to smash the chains of these addictions!

REFLECTION:  What is our addiction, or to put it another way, what is our major capital sin? Are we working diligently to overcome it by practicing the opposite virtue? For deeply rooted sins, we must apply the Rule of Graduality. Confess the sin each time we fall, and notice how over time we are falling in this area less and having to confess it less. God’s mercy at work!

3. Despairing Souls.
Another very critical category of souls to pray for is those who are despairing, those who have lost all hope. These are those souls who believe that their sins are so serious and many that they go beyond the pale of God’s mercy. Actually, the worst of all sins, as expressed in Saint Faustina’s Diary: Divine Mercy In My Soul, is failure to trust in the Infinite Mercy that flows from the loving Heart of Jesus, pierced by the lance on that first Good Friday.

REFLECTION: Have we ever despaired of God’s Mercy? Looking back over our life, are there any sins that we failed to confess because of shame or fear? Let us resolve to confess those sins now, and make the best confession of our life!

4. Anger and Hatred.
Another very important group of souls who make up part of our prayer of intercession are those souls who have been so beaten, wounded, pummeled and lacerated in life by others that they are filled with gaping wounds of anger and hatred so deep, foul, and festering that they do not want to turn to the Divine Physician to be healed and saved. Of course we know that one of the primary missions of the Lord Jesus was to heal wounded humanity. The blind, the deaf, the mute, the lepers, and the paralytics were drawn to Jesus like a magnet and because of their faith they were healed.

Let us pray for those who are deeply wounded by anger and hatred, that they will turn to Jesus and be healed and renewed. Of course the best model to follow for those who have been literally blinded by anger and hatred because of those who have wounded them, is Jesus Himself as He hung on the cross. Basically, the Body of Jesus was a gaping wound from head to foot. Yet Jesus taught us the power of love, mercy, and forgiveness with these words: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing.” (Lk. 23:34) Let us turn to Jesus! Either we are wounded wounders or we are wounded healers! May those embittered by past wounds turn to Jesus for healing so that they can one day become wounded healers in a broken and wounded world!

REFLECTION: Are we holding on to anger and resentment over past wounds? Beg the Lord to take this anger and resentment from us by 1) making a good confession, and 2) praying every day for someone who hurt us. Persevere in this prayer and the Divine Physician will bring about two miracles – the healing of two souls, the soul of the person we pray for and our own.

5. Those who are dying.
Of primary importance, we should lift our fervent and zealous prayers for this very important category: sinners who are about to die; we call them deathbed sinners. These are individuals who may be dying in the state of mortal sin, thereby separating themselves from God. Now, if they die in this state of unrepentant mortal sin they will lose their soul for all eternity—the worse fate that could befall any person! What can we do? Jesus promised in the Diary of Divine Mercy of Saint Faustina Kowalska that when we pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for those who are dying, these souls in some mysterious way will be saved for all eternity. Therefore, if you are ever present at the deathbed of any person, and this means not only a Catholic, but even a fallen away Catholic, or Christian, Moslem, Buddhist, Hindu, agnostic, even an atheist, then for the love of God and for the eternal salvation of this soul pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. If done, Jesus promised in Faustina’s Diary of Divine Mercy that this person’s soul will be saved. We believe what we cannot yet see!

REFLECTION: May our prayers for deathbed sinners bring about the salvation of many, and may they become advocates for our salvation as we lie dying on our deathbed.

In conclusion, let us pray, and pray often and fervently. However, let us make it a point to pray in a very special way for sinners. Our Lady of Fatima stated that many souls are lost because there is nobody to pray for them. Let us pray through the Immaculate Heart of Mary for the salvation of countless sinners. May they turn to the merciful Heart of Jesus and be saved for all eternity!

REFLECTION: One of the souls we save through our fervent prayers for others, may be our own!

 

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

Thursday of the First Week of Lent

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

THURSDAY, February 25th   Mt. 7:7-12   “Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.’”

• It is one thing to have patience. It is quite another thing to aspire to patience. Most of us are in the second category!

Part 1: Patience achieves everything… by Saint Teresa of Avila
Part 2: PATIENCE, PATIENCE, AND MORE PATIENCE! By Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

PART 1: Patience achieves everything… by Saint Teresa of Avila

Let nothing perturb you, nothing frighten you. All things pass. God does not change. Patience achieves everything.

May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use the gifts you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing you are a child of God.

Christ has no body now, but yours.
No hands, no feet on earth, but yours.
Yours are the eyes through which Christ looks with compassion into the world.
Yours are the feet with which Christ walks to do good.
Yours are the hands with which Christ blesses the world.

PART 2:  PATIENCE, PATIENCE, AND MORE PATIENCE!!! By Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

A woman talking to the Lord in prayer, begged the Lord for a very special virtue that she sorely needed, and this was the content of her concise but almost desperate prayer: “Lord I beg you, Lord I truly beg you, give me patience and right now!!!” I think we can all identify with the heartfelt prayer of this woman begging for a virtue that we all need on a daily basis, probably even on an hourly basis. So important is this virtue that Jesus said: “By your patience you will save your souls.” (Lk 21:19) All of us must strive to practice patience, but of primary importance, and Saint Ignatius of Loyola insists on this, we must beg for the grace from God to be patient.  

Therefore, we would like to offer a brief strategy, a clear and practical program on how we can eventually, with the help of God’s grace which is never lacking, attain that most important and most needed virtue of PATIENCE. With God’s grace all is possible. Or if you like: “Nothing is impossible with God!” (Lk 1:37)

1. GOD’S INFINITE AND PERMANENT LOVE.
Most of us have heard this countless times, such that it may seem to be a trite, hackneyed phrase, a pious platitude, a common cliché. However, this short but most profound Biblical truth must descend from our head to our heart and it is this: GOD REALLY AND TRULY LOVES ME!!! Most certainly we have heard and read this truth numerous times, but maybe it is like water running off a duck’s back in that it has never really sunk into the depths of our heart. In a word, we must be really convinced not only that GOD IS LOVE, but that this God of Love has an infinite and permanent love for me in all times, all places, and all circumstances! And yes, it must be stated, God loves me even when I fail Him due to my moral failures that we call sin. Jesus came not for the perfect but for the sinners, and all of us fall into that category or group. As Saint Paul so clearly reminds us in Romans: “Where sin abounds, the mercy of God abounds all the more.” (Rom 5:20) Therefore, pray and meditate upon this most simple but profound truth: God really does love me always and without limitations. His love is both eternal and infinite! This is our Great God!

2. CONTEMPLATE THE CRUCIFIX. 
In the life of Saint John Bosco in the context of the Oratory, his mother, Margarita, stayed with him to help with so many household details in the midst of rambunctious teen boys. However, she had reached her limit with the disorder and high-energy of these mischievous teens, and had her bag packed, ready to return to her home. Father John Bosco, her son, said nothing, only lifted his finger to the wall where there was a cross with Jesus hanging from it. After gazing upon Jesus hanging and suffering on the cross, Mama Margarita understood how much Jesus loved these abandoned youths and how Jesus wanted Margarita to practice patience. Thereupon, this holy woman and mother of a saintly priest dropped her baggage and spent the rest of her life assisting John Bosco with the youth! Therefore, in your life, when it seems as if the cross you are carrying is unbearable, lift up your eyes to contemplate Jesus hanging on the cross, loving all of humanity and patiently enduring the pain for all. You will receive a special grace to practice patience.

3. BEG FOR THE GRACE. 
Saint Augustine states: “We are all beggars before God.” That means we are all in dire need of God’s help at all times and in all places because we are very weak. It is so true that we are weak; however, God is strong. As the Psalmist reminds us: “Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth.” (Ps 124:8) Even the great Apostle Paul cried out: “When I am weak, it is then that I am strong.” (2 Cor 12:10) After begging the Lord to remove the thorn in his flesh, Saint Paul was told by the Lord: “My grace is sufficient!” (2 Cor 12:9) Indeed, if we beg the Lord for the grace to be patient, He will rush to our aid. God hears and responds to a humble, pure, and persevering prayer!

4. MAKE THE WAY OF THE CROSS. 
On one occasion, I was speaking to a Spiritual Director and he made this comment: “When I find myself in a state of desolation, when things appear to be dark, dreary, and hopeless, I make the Stations of the Cross and inevitably the desolation disappears.” I believe this can be applied to patience. When you feel as if the weight of the cross is unbearable, not able to be supported for another minute, then slowly walk the Way of the Cross with the Lord and you will receive renewed strength and vitality! With Saint Francis of Assisi may we pray: “We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.”

5. HONEST CONVERSATION WITH JESUS, MARY, AND SAINT JOSEPH. 
Our prayer to be authentic, must be honest. Indeed, if it is such that we find our life situation very difficult, to the point of being almost impossible, then it is time to sit down in front of Jesus, and you might invite Saint Joseph and Mary to be present, and pour out your heart to your Best Friends—Jesus, Mary, and Saint Joseph. Jesus said: “Unless you become like a little child, you cannot enter the Kingdom of God.” (Mt 18:3) Take for a model, if you like, the movie Miracle of Marcelino (1955 version), also known as Marcelino Pan Y Vino. This little boy with holy abandon opens up to Jesus, expressing the deepest desire in his heart as well as his greatest suffering—the lack or absence of the love of a mother, and his great desire to have one. He unloads to Jesus. Jesus listens to the little boy and accedes to his request. So must we be like a little child, so must we imitate the holy abandon, trust, and simplicity of Marcelino, and tell the Lord how difficult it is at times to bear the cross and beg for the sorely needed patience. The Lord, Mary, and Saint Joseph will not delay in coming to your assistance!

6. MEDITATE AND CONTEMPLATE UPON HEAVEN—YOUR ULTIMATE DESTINY. 
It must be stated with bold truth: we do not meditate or contemplate enough on the reality of heaven. Our life is very short, like the flower that rises in the morning and withers and dies as the sun goes down or like smoke blown by the wind. Saint Augustine states that our life in comparison with eternity is a mere blink of the eye. Our Lady of Fatima said that if humanity would only meditate upon eternity, they would be converted immediately! We must meditate upon the shortness of our life, the purpose of our life, and the eternal reward that awaits us. The simple Catechism teaches us this eternal truth: “We are here on earth to know God, love God, and serve God, so that we may be with Him forever in heaven.” Even the greatest crosses and sufferings can be supported if we meditate more often upon Heaven—its joy, rewards, and reality! Saint Paul breaks out with this radiant and consoling truth: “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) The thought of Heaven can attain for us patience, patience, and even more patience!!!

7. OFFER IT UP, DO NOT WASTE IT! 
Of course, the whole concept and virtue of patience is related to suffering. Our patience can be tried with respect to our health, finances, family problems, social conflicts, academic or work challenges or failures, ruptured relationships, mental and emotional turmoil, and uncertainties of all kinds—all of these and more can put our patience to the test! However, instead of complaining and becoming bitter over your crosses, why not accept the crosses, beg for patience to carry them, and offer the crosses as well as your patient endurance to God for the conversion and salvation of sinners—there are many out there who need special graces, even in our own families! With this supernatural view or perspective, the crosses become lighter and patience comes easier. Try it! Lift up your mind and cultivate a more supernatural vision of your life, your crosses, and their eternal value!

8. DON’T HIDE IT, BUT SHARE IT. 
One of the key aspects of Ignatian Spirituality is that in our spiritual life, we are not made to be loners, rugged individualists, like the pioneer, Daniel Boone. On the contrary, to make it to heaven, we have to learn to work with others; we must have some form of spiritual direction or accompaniment to persevere until the end in our spiritual journey. Of capital importance for our spiritual progress is the need to have a spiritual director and to be able to open up with great humility, trust, and transparency, especially when the cross seems heaviest and our patience is really being put to the test. You might be surprised that once you have unloaded, articulated, and expressed your cross and your need for patience to your spiritual director, the cross seems to diminish in size and the patience that seemed almost impossible is indeed very possible. Jesus said: “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Mt. 11:30)

9. THREE AREAS WHERE WE MUST ESPECIALLY BE ON GUARD AND BEG FOR THE GRACE. 
Jesus said: “By your patience, you will save your souls.” (Lk 21:19) A good part of our spiritual victory can be achieved through awareness, vigilance, self-knowledge, and a Daily Examen. In our short lives there will usually be three areas where we need patience: 1) with God, 2) with others, and 3) with ourselves. Let us briefly address these three areas. First, with respect to God, possibly it has happened to you that you have been praying to God for something and it seems that He is not listening. Nothing could be further from the truth! God always hears us, but He often makes us wait so that we can grow in the two virtues of patience and prayerfulness. Saint Monica prayed for more than 30 years for the conversion of her family! But it happened—not only was her son, Augustine converted, but also her husband and mother-in-law! With respect to patience with others, of great help might be the simple reminder of our own faults and sins, and how patient God has been with us! So should we be patient with the limitations of others. Finally, Saint Frances de Sales insists that we must be patient with ourselves. “The just man falls seven times a day, but rises again.” (Prov 24:16) Saint Junipero Serra was famous for saying: “Siempre Adelante, Siempre Adelante y nunca atras.” Or “Always forward, always forward and never look back.” The Founder of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary, Venerable Bruno Lanteri coined the two word axiom: NUNC COEPI—NOW I BEGIN meaning that if I fall, I will get up as many times as need be and try again trusting in God’s infinite patience, mercy, and love. Indeed, as the Psalmist teaches us: “God is slow to anger and rich in kindness.” (Ps 103:8)

10. MARIA COGITA, MARIA INVOCA… THINK OF MARY AND INVOKE MARY.
Once again, a hallmark of the spirituality of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary is a tender, total, and unlimited trust in the presence, power, prayer, perseverance, and purity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the prayer, the Memorare, Saint Bernard offers us these most consoling words: O most gracious Virgin Mary, never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession was left unaided…”  Why not form this habit, consecrate your days to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus. However, during the course of the day, especially during trials and tribulations when the cross seems most heavy, lift up your eyes and call upon the Holy Name of Mary. As a most loving and tender Mother she will never fail you!

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

Wednesday of the First Week of Lent

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

WEDNESDAY, February 24th   Lk. 11:29-32   Gospel Verse: “Even now, says the LORD, return to me with your whole heart for I am gracious and merciful.”

• What we forget is that God loved us first! He loved the idea of you so much that He had to create you. Now He invites you to enter into a love affair with Him. To receive His loving embrace now and for all eternity!
• On the evening of His last supper with them, Jesus told His apostles, and us: “Do not let your hearts be troubled…believe in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so that you also may be where I am.” (Jn. 14: 1-20)
• The proof of His love is the cross, willingly suffered for each one of us. “I have come to cast fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already blazing!” (Lk. 12:49)

A CONTEMPLATION—THE POWER OF THE CROSS OF JESUS CHRIST by Fr. Ed. Broom, OMV

Let us meditate upon what the saints have said about the power of the cross; then spend time in silence meditating upon the crucifix, the most eloquent symbol of love in the entire world. With Saint Francis of Assisi, who bore the wounds of Christ in his body through the mystical grace of the stigmata, let us pray with all of our heart: “We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.”

WHAT SOME OF THE SAINTS HAVE SAID ABOUT THE CROSS…

“It is not the finest wood that feeds the fire of Divine love, but the wood of the cross.”   (Saint Ignatius of Loyola)

“Whenever anything disagreeable or displeasing happens to you, remember Christ crucified and be silent.” (Saint John of the Cross)

“The road is narrow. He who wishes to travel it more easily must cast off all things and use the cross as his cane. In other words, he must be truly resolved to suffer willingly for the love of God in all things.” (Saint John of the Cross)

“The Passion of Christ is the greatest and most stupendous work of Divine Love.”
(Saint Paul of the Cross)

“O cherished cross! Through thee my most bitter trials are replete with graces.”   
(Saint Paul of the Cross)

“Our Savior’s passion raises men and women from the depths, lifts them up from the earth, and sets them in the heights.” (Saint Maximus of Turin)

Now enter into your own meditation/contemplation on the Mystery of the Holy Cross as you lift your gaze to a graphic crucifix and peer into the five deep wounds of Jesus, who loved you so much that He was crucified, suffered and died for you. How great is the love of God for you!!!

1. CRUCIFIX ON THE WALL OF ALL THE BEDROOMS IN YOUR HOME.    
It is highly recommended that all of your bedrooms have a crucifix on the wall. A crucifix has a Corpus, meaning, the Body of Christ nailed to the wood of the cross. The cross without the Corpus of Christ almost deprives the cross of its meaning. Jesus suffered and died on the cross—His Body hung on the cross for three long hours, from 12 noon to 3 pm, for your salvation!

2. CONTEMPLATE THE CROSS.
Get into the habit before retiring every night of spending at least a few moments in silence contemplating, looking deeply at the cross and He who died on the cross for love of you—the Savior, Jesus Christ. Offer Him your immense love and gratitude. Contemplation is a form of prayer in which we think deeply with our mind and love immensely with our heart, for the immense love that Jesus has not just for all, but for each one of us individually.  

3. CALL TO MIND THE WORDS JESUS SPOKE ON THE CROSS.   
A very salutary and sanctifying practice is to call to mind the seven last words (phrases) that Jesus pronounced from the cross. Take these words into your mind and your heart. Ven. Fulton J. Sheen asserts that from the pulpit of the cross, Jesus preached His last and best homily. Let us be attentive students and listeners. (Listed below)

4. MEMORIZE THE SEVEN LAST WORDS OF JESUS, THE MOST ELOQUENT PREACHER:
Which one speaks most to you right now?

• Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing. (23:34)
• Amen, I say to you: today you will be with me in Paradise. (Lk. 23:43)
• Woman behold thy son; son behold thy Mother. (Jn. 19:26-27)
• I thirst. (Jn. 19:28)
• My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Mt. 27:46)
• It is finished. (Jn. 19:30)
• Father, into your hands I commend my spirit. (Lk. 23:46)

5. IMITATE THE SAINTS AND KISS THE WOUNDS OF CHRIST.   
Prayer is not simply a cerebral or intellectual function. Prayer involves the whole person. Saint Francis, and many of the saints, would express their love for their crucified Savior by kissing Jesus’ five wounds on the crucifix. You do the same! By doing so, you manifest the heartfelt love you have for Jesus. Every one of those open wounds that Jesus endured—the nails that perforated His hands and feet, the lance that entered His side and pierced His Heart causing blood and water to gush forth, were for love of you and for your eternal salvation. How great is the love of the crucified Savior for you, and how great His desire for the salvation of your immortal soul!  

6. LIKE MARCELINO TALK TO THE CRUCIFIED LORD.    
(Movie: Miracle of Marcelino – 1955 black and white version.) In this movie-classic, imitate the little orphan boy, Marcelino, and talk to the Lord Jesus from the depths of your heart. Use simple words, but words anointed with great love and passion, expressing your heartfelt gratitude for the Lord Jesus and all He did for love of you.

7. CONTEMPLATE THE CROSS AND CALVARY RELATED TO THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS.
As you lift your gaze to Jesus hanging from the cross, call to mind the intimate relationship between Jesus crucified on Calvary on Good Friday and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.  Invisible as it is, and with the utmost depth of mystical meaning, every time an ordained priest offers the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, Calvary and the crucified Lord Jesus are present. In every Mass, the fruits of the crucified Lord are available to all of humanity. Next time you go to Mass, contemplate the big Crucifix on the wall behind the priest who is celebrating Mass, and remember that Calvary is present when the priest lifts up the Host and elevates the Chalice! O Sacrament most holy, O Sacrament divine, all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine!

8. JESUS’ OPEN ARMS ON THE CROSS.
Contemplate now the open arms of Jesus as He hangs from the cross. There is depth of meaning here. Saint Augustine, giving a symbolic interpretation of the crucifix and the position of Jesus’ Body says: Jesus has His head bent to kiss us; His arms open to embrace us; and His heart open to receive us! Jesus’ open arms are symbolic of the arms of the Father of the Prodigal Son. The meaning? Despite the sad reality of our many sins, God always, in all times and on all occasions, has His arms wide-open to receive us—symbolic of forgiveness. As the Prophet Isaiah reminds us: “Though your sins be as scarlet, they will be as white as the snow.” (Is. 1:18) In concrete, Jesus beckons us to return to Him with a sincere and contrite heart through the reception of the Sacrament of His Mercy, the Sacrament of Confession, and be renewed, reformed, and made anew!

9. JESUS’ BLOOD STAINED BODY AND GARMENTS.   
As you contemplate the blood-stained body of Jesus and few garments, the virtue of purity and modesty should surge in your mind and heart. Both the stripping of Jesus, as well as the brutal scourging at the pillar, were accepted willingly by Jesus to repair for the countless sins of impurity committed by all of humanity and by us individually. Our Lady of Fatima commented sadly that most souls are lost due to sins against the 6th and 9th Commandments; that is to say, sins committed against the virtue of purity. May our contemplation of the lacerated and bloody Body of the Lord Jesus inspire within us a great desire for purity—in body, mind, thought, word, deed, desire and intention. Jesus taught us in the Beatitudes: “Blessed are the pure of heart, they will see God.” (Mt. 5:8)

10. THE CROSS AND CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS AND OURS…   
As you look up to the cross and contemplate Jesus with love, recall His words: Anyone who wishes to be my follower must renounce himself, take up his cross, and follow me. (Mt. 16:24) Spend some quiet time in prayer before the Crucified Lord Jesus and open up the very depths of your heart, pour out your feelings and emotions with respect to your own crosses. Jesus desires to listen to you, accompany you, and help you. He is not indifferent to the cries and supplications of your heart, but desires to really help you. What might be your cross or crosses? A health problem, an economic strait, a difficult relative, a rebellious son or daughter, a tense relationship with a spouse, a work conflict, a spiritual doubt, the loss of a loved one, the pain of a past deep wound, fear of the dark and ominous clouds of the future, the fear of suffering and of your own mortality and death? All of these can be the subject of your colloquy with the crucified Lord Jesus. Often our cross is simply too heavy because we fail to invite Jesus to come and help us carry our cross. Ask Him! Invite Him! Listen to His words: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, 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)

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

Tuesday of the First Week of Lent

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

TUESDAY, February 23rd   Mt. 6: 7-15   “If you forgive men their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”

Part 1: FORGIVENESS… by Father Jacques Philippe
Part 2: FIVE WAYS TO PRACTICE FORGIVENESS by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV  

 PART 1: FORGIVENESS… by Father Jacques Philippe

Of course there are cases when the suffering other people causes us is due to a real fault on their part. The proper attitude then is something demanding and difficult: forgiveness.

Modern culture doesn’t rate forgiveness very highly. More often it justifies resentment and revenge. But does that reduce the amount of evil in the world? The only way to diminish the suffering that burdens mankind is by forgiveness.

It bears repeating… that unless we understand the importance of forgiveness and practice it in our relations with others, we will never achieve inner freedom but will always be prisoners of our own bitterness.

When we refuse to forgive someone for harm done to us, we are adding another wrong to the first. That solves nothing at all. We are increasing the quantity of evil in the world, which has quite enough as it is. Let us not join in the propagation of evil!

Saint Paul tells us, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good!” (Rom 12:21)

PART 2: FIVE WAYS TO PRACTICE FORGIVENESS by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV  

The renowned English poet Alexander Pope stated: “To err is human; to forgive is divine.” How true this statement, but how difficult it can be! Holding on to resentment indeed is interior slavery. Whereas, to forgive is truly imitating God Himself, but also setting the captive free and that captive is us!

Frequently and in unequivocal terms, Jesus has reaffirmed the indispensable obligation of all to forgive those who hurt us, to pray for our enemies, and do good to those who hurt us! Once again, easier said than done! Actually without God’s grace to forgive those who have wounded us and to love and pray for our enemies, far transcends and supersedes our natural powers. In sum, we need Gods’ grace to forgive our enemies.

Jesus is our example in all, in absolutely all we say, do and even think in our daily lives! Indeed He said it clearly: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” Jesus first began by doing, and then by His preaching. First actions, then words.

His very demanding teaching on forgiveness, He Himself lived to perfection at every stage and moment of His earthly existence.

What are some of the teachings of Jesus on mercy and forgiveness? Let’s meditate on a few of them. “Be merciful as your Heavenly Father is merciful.” (Lk. 6:36) In response to Peter’s generous willingness to forgive seven times, Jesus upped it a notch or two: “No, I say to you forgive seventy times seven.” (Mt. 18:20) This is hyperbole for the imperious obligation to forgive always, without limits or reservations.

Then Jesus made a Liturgical/Mass allusion. He said that if you have come to Church to present your offering and you know that your brother has something against you, simply leave the offering at the foot of the altar, reconcile with your brother and then return to offer the gift. In other words, to celebrate the Liturgy worthily we should strive to be at peace with our brothers and sisters, and not be angry and resentful towards anybody.

Then in the most famous prayer in the world, the Our Father, Jesus inserted this very important command: “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” In other words, forgiveness from God is a two way street. If we want to be a recipient of God’s forgiveness, then necessarily we must forgive those who have hurt us.

Finally, the most eloquent witness of Gods’ forgiveness for all of humanity and for us individually was when Jesus hung upon the cross after having been scourged, crowned with thorns, spat upon and mocked, forgotten and abandoned by His loved ones, derided and mocked incessantly. What was His response as He hung on the cross ready to breathe forth His spirit? These words: “Father forgive them, for they know not what they are doing.”

Following are five short and concrete suggestions to help us on the pathway to forgiveness and mercy!

1. Beg for the Grace!
To forgive our enemies, to pray for them and to love them goes far beyond our fallen human nature. We desperately need God’s overflowing and abundant graces. Saint Augustine says that we are all beggars before God. Therefore, we should beg for the grace to forgive when we are put to the test. God will not deny us this petition and important grace!

2. Forgive Immediately.
When we are offended, often the devil works on us right away fostering thoughts of revenge in our mind. Such ugly and vindictive thoughts can easily surface: “Get even!”…“Teach him a lesson.”… “Give him a taste of his own medicine.”… “Eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth. Finally, “Do not let him get away with it.” In a certain sense, as one Protestant preacher put it succinctly: “We desire to forgive him, but only after we see him squirm like a worm in hot ashes, at least for a while.” All of these thoughts and feelings are diametrically opposed to the teaching of Our Merciful Savior, so we must resist them and reject them as soon as we become aware of them. Therefore, if we respond to God’s grace and mercy, and forgive immediately, there is a very good chance that the victory is ours. In sum, be quick to reject vindictive thoughts and even more rapid to forgive!

3. Humility.
Another efficacious spiritual weapon that we have in our armory is humility. How? In this way! If forgiveness proves laborious and near impossible, then call to mind your worst sin, or your most embarrassing sin, and the fact that God forgave you as soon as you begged for His mercy and forgiveness. Most likely, the offense that was leveled against you is minimal in comparison with your most grave or embarrassing sin. This can prove to be a powerful tool to open up your heart in mercy and forgiveness!

4. Mercy is a Two-Way Street.
Next, remember that receiving God’s mercy is not a dead-end street, but rather a two-way street! Meaning? Jesus said: “Be merciful as your Heavenly Father is merciful… and forgive.” Therefore, if we want to experience God’s Infinite Mercy in our lives, we must extend our hand in forgiveness towards those who have offended us. The Our Father teaches us the same lesson: “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Saint Faustina Kowalska in her Diary, Divine Mercy in My Soul asserts unequivocally that the greatest attribute or virtue in God is His Infinite Mercy. Followers of Jesus the merciful Savior must practice this sublime but very demanding virtue. Mercy is God’s love forgiving the sinner. Our deciding to forgive our enemies is a clear sign of the victory of God’s grace and mercy in our lives!

5. Jesus Bleeding on the Cross for You.
Possibly the most convincing motivational force to compel us to forgive those who offend us is the serene but serious contemplation of Jesus hanging on the cross, shedding every drop of His most Precious Blood to save all of humanity, but in particular your immortal soul. When you have been hurt and unwilling to forgive, lift up your eyes to contemplate Jesus as He hangs from the cross. Remember what He has already gone through—sweating Blood in the Garden, scourged at the Pillar, crowned with thorns, denied by Peter, betrayed by Judas, condemned though totally innocent, and finally nailed to the cross where He shed every drop of His Precious Blood.

What were the first words that issued forth from the most Sacred Heart of Jesus? Listen, contemplate, and pray! “Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing!” Meditating upon these words, coupled with the contemplation of Jesus’ bitter Passion, hanging from the cross and shedding His most Precious Blood for us, should be the most efficacious tool/hammer to crush the hardened heart that is apparently unwilling to forgive!

Finally, beg Our Lady of Sorrows, Our Lady of Mercy for the grace to forgive. Nobody ever suffered more than Mary—aside from Jesus Himself! She heard and witnessed her only Son suffer and die on the cross, brutally mistreated, yet she forgave from the depths of her Immaculate Heart. May Our Lady attain for us the grace to forgive, to be merciful, and merit the title to be truly the son or daughter of God the Father, brother or sister to Jesus Christ, and friend of the Holy Spirit in time and for all eternity! Amen.

BONUS REFLECTION!

Pope Francis on Forgiveness

“Do we have mercy and forgiveness in our hearts? What is the danger? It is that we presume we are righteous and judge others. We also judge God, because we think that He should punish sinners, condemn them to death, instead of forgiving.  If in our heart there is no mercy, no joy of forgiveness, we are not in communion with God, even if we observe all of His other precepts. It is love of God and neighbor that brings fulfillment to all the Commandments. And this is the love of God, His joy: forgiveness.”

 

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

Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, Apostle

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

MONDAY, February 22nd   Mt. 16: 13-19   FEAST OF THE CHAIR OF ST. PETER

Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

ON THIS GREAT FEAST DAY Christ is establishing His Church – the Mystical Body of Christ on earth! And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it!

10 WAYS WE CAN HEAL A WOUNDED CHURCH by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

Venerable Fulton J. Sheen once stated that the Church goes through a crisis about every 500 years. Presently the Church is traversing an exceedingly painful period. Scandals seem to be rocking the Church to its very foundation. Indeed, many, especially the vulnerable, are exiting the Church in considerable numbers. Nobody can deny the fact that Holy Mother Church suffers deep, gaping wounds that will not be healed overnight.

The challenge is before us. We can jump ship or we can strive to mend the holes in the ship. We can throw in the towel and call it quits or we can fight the good fight until the end. Each and every one of us must make the choice.

I hope and pray that our choice will be the choice of Joshua and his entire family with these decisive words: “As for me and my family: we will follow the Lord!” (Josh 24: 15) May it be your choice in words and actions: “As for me and my family, we will stay in the Church and strive with every fiber of our being to transform the Church! And this transformation will commence with my own personal spiritual and moral life!”

In imitation of Joshua and his family and all the courageous saints of the past, we would like to offer ten short, clear, and practical helps to regroup, rebuild, restore, and start anew with this thought: “The worst of times can indeed be the best of times.”And may each of us decide this will start with me and my own personal life and commitment! Let us dig deep within our own hearts and strive for a radical conversion of life through the Infinite Love of the Merciful Hearts of Jesus and Mary.

1. FERVENT PRAYER TO MARY AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.
The nascent Church underwent a radical transformation and conversion due to the presence of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Infusion of the Holy Spirit. Read the account of Pentecost (Acts 2). At the prospect of Jesus’ Passion, suffering, and death on the cross, all of the Apostles, with the exception of Saint John, fled, paralyzed with fear. The little group of followers that Jesus chose basically jumped ship and abandoned the pursuit Jesus had instilled in them. 

However, a powerful nine day Retreat (Novena) concluded with the sound of a rushing wind and fire as the Holy Spirit descended on Mary and the Apostles. Fears, doubts, confusion, insecurities—all disappeared through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the presence, prayer, penance, and perseverance of Mary, the Mother of God.

Mary gave birth to Jesus in Bethlehem; Mary would be present at the birth of the Mystical Body of Christ on Pentecost. If indeed the Church is to undergo a deep reform and a deep healing it must come about by fervent, prolonged, sacrificial prayer, and the presence of Mary.

Saint Alphonsus Liguori, Doctor of the Church and author of the Glories of Mary, asserted: “When a person declines and descends into lukewarmness, it is because he is lacking the presence of Mary. Mary attains fire, fervor, and deep prayer!”

2. AVOID GOSSIP.
Saint James issues a strong warning and admonition: “Be slow to speak and quick to listen.” (Jas. 1: 19) All too often it is easier to give ears to gossip, negative criticism, character assassination, as well as to spread this with our own tongue. Saint Augustine makes this interesting observation: “The more we criticize and condemn others, the less we examine our own lives.” A very strong recommendation on this topic of the loose tongue and venomous tongue: read Saint James Chapter 3—the sins of the tongue! With respect to the problems in the Church, why not talk to God, as well as your Confessor, and offer fervent prayers for the Church.

3. PRACTICE AND PERSEVERANCE IN PENANCE.
Our Lady of Fatima stated that many souls are lost because too few people pray and too few people offer sacrifices for the conversion of poor sinners. Jesus also said: “Some devils can be cast out only by prayer and fasting (penance).” (Mt 17: 21) All of us, young and old, man or woman, rich or poor, can choose some concrete form of penance and offer that for the conversion and healing of Holy Mother Church. As Saint Therese of Lisieux, who loved the Church intensely, pointed out: “Holiness does not depend upon the greatness of the action, but the love that accompanies it.” In other words: Do the ordinary things of daily life with extraordinary love.

4. SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE HARD–WORKING PRIESTS IN THEIR LABORS.
Despite the failures and scandals present in the Church, there are still many hard-working, holy, and generous priests who are working in the vineyard of the Lord almost unperceived. The Press often promotes and spreads the bad news, but ignores, conceals, and hides the manifold good actions that many priests carry out in the Lord’s vineyard day and night.

The next time you have contact with a priest in Confession or after Mass, you might say a prayer for him and give him a kind word of encouragement. That can go a long way. (I can testify to this through experience).

5. FIND MODELS FOR THE CHURCH.
A wounded, limping, and floundering Church is in dire need of splendid models to follow from both the past and the present. Athletes admire their heroes from the past. Writers admire literary masters. Artists look for exemplary models after whom to style their work. Now more than ever, priests, as well as Bishops, must lift their eyes to brilliant models. These of course are the saints. Von Balthasar states that in the heavenly firmament shine stars in gleaming splendor and these are the saints.

6. A LITANY OF SAINTS.
Why not compose a Litany of saintly priests and Bishops and pray fervently this Litany on a daily basis for the conversion, healing, reform and renewal of the Church? If you like, I will start the list with ten saintly Bishops followed by ten saintly priests and you can add your own.

However, we must pray fervently and insistently to them for the Church! Indeed, their prayers are very powerful to say the least. Let us first lift our minds, our hearts and souls to these saintly Bishops: Saint Alphonsus Liguori, Saint Robert Bellarmine, Saint Anthony Maria Claret, Saint Albert the Great, Saint John Neuman, Saint Frances de Sales, Saint Augustine, Saint Athanasius, Saint John the Evangelist, Saint John Fisher… now you can add your own!

Next let us lift our minds, our hearts and souls to saintly priests: Saint John Bosco, Saint Padre Pio, Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Saint Thomas Aquinas, Saint Philip Neri, Saint John Vianney, Saint Louis de Montfort, Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Saint Francis Xavier, Saint Damian of Molokai… now add your own, please.

By forming this double Litany of saintly Bishops and priests and praying it fervently every day, an outpouring and effusion of graces will descend upon the Church, and especially upon priests and Bishops. The prayers of these priestly souls and saints in heaven will never fail us!

7. A MODERN MODEL FOR PRIESTS AND BISHOPS: VEN. FULTON SHEEN.
Personally, I never weary of promoting the Beatification of Ven. Fulton Sheen. Indeed, in the modern world with its modern crises, this man of God who died in 1979 was a true prophet and serves as a brilliant model for both priests and Bishops.

Upon retiring as Bishop at age 75, Sheen dedicated the last few years of his life to preaching retreats, but specifically to priests and Bishops. He always concluded with one simple idea: The Holy Hour of Power. In a word, Sheen insisted that if priests, as well as Bishops, truly yearned for a sincere conversion of heart and life then it would come through daily contact with the Eucharistic Lord Jesus, present in the Tabernacle. This meant the priests and Bishops had to make the commitment to make a Daily Holy Hour.

If done with constancy, fervor, faithfulness, and perseverance, the net result will be conversion, sanctification, and a true life of priestly holiness. Please pray for priests and Bishops, that through the intercession of Ven. Fulton Sheen, they will give the Lord Jesus that hour, the Holy Hour, the Hour of Power. If done, the priest/Bishop will be imbued with power in his ministry to gather in an abundant harvest of souls.

 8. IN SINU JESU.
Recently, a simple but profound spiritual masterpiece is spreading far and wide. The title is In Sinu Jesu: When Heart Speaks to Heart — The Journal of a Priest at Prayer. The theme is very simple. Jesus, who is the High Priest par excellence, has a burning desire to establish, cultivate, and grow in friendship with every priest and Bishop. Most especially, Jesus longs for priests/Bishops to come before Him in the Blessed Sacrament and spend time with Him. In this time, Jesus longs to speak heart to heart with the priest/Bishop.

What does Jesus desire of the priest/Bishop? The following: his presence, prayer, thanksgiving, supplication, adoration, love, confidence, sincerity, transparency. In a word, Jesus’ Heart is burning with an ardent fire to cultivate a deep, dynamic friendship with every priest and Bishop in the world, until the end of time. As is displayed on the front cover, Saint John is leaning on the Heart of Jesus. This Beloved Disciple, Saint John, is the model for every priest and Bishop in the world. Priests/Bishops must get to know, converse with, trust, abandon themselves to, and befriend Jesus. Once done, the life of the priest/Bishop will undergo a radical transformation, as well as the Church, the Mystical Body of Christ.

Pray and meditate upon this short passage from the Book: “Listen to me, open to me the ear of your heart, and I will speak to you as I promised. I will instruct you. I will teach you. I will show you the way in which you are to go. My heart yearns for yours. I so desire your company… I have called you to experience the grace of my friendship. I want you to be for my Heart another Saint John, loving me, seeking me, listening to me, abiding in my presence…” (In Sin Jesu, page 21)

9. Mercy, Mercy, and Once Again Mercy.
Priests and Bishops must be totally immersed and transformed by the mercy in the Heart of Jesus. The Lord Jesus stated on many occasions to Saint Faustina Kowalska in the Diary: Divine Mercy in My Soul, that the greatest attribute in the Heart of Jesus is His Infinite Mercy. However, for both priest and Bishop this mercy is a two-way street. First, he must experience the mercy of the Sacred Heart of Jesus as sinner and penitent.

In a word, a priest who expresses mercy to others must first experience the merciful love of Christ as a penitent. Before saying “I absolve you of your sins”, the priest/Bishop must hear and experience those words expressed to and for him. In other words, before becoming the Father of the Prodigal Son, we first must be the son embraced by the loving Father. Nobody can give what he does not have himself!

10.  Mary: The Mother of God, the Mother of the Church, and the Mother of Priests.
Among the many titles for Our Lady are the following from the prayer the Hail Holy Queen: “Our life, our sweetness, and our hope…” In the midst of the struggles, trials, battles, turmoil and confusion of life, the priest/Bishop must walk very closely with Mary most Holy—”our life, our sweetness, and our hope.” 

The feminine, motherly, tender presence of Mary must constantly fill, absorb, and protect both the priest and the Bishop. That lonely, hollow, and desolate void that many priests at times may experience can be filled by the presence of Mary.

Saint Therese, who prayed constantly for priests, once stated that, “Mary is Queen and Mother, but she is more Mother than she is Queen.” The priest must experience this tender, loving presence of Mary whose love is constant, pure, attentive, powerful, and most efficacious!

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