Tuesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

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

TUESDAY, JANUARY 12th   Mk. 1: 21-28   “All were amazed and asked one another, ‘What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.’”

Part 1: Prayer as Spiritual Warfare… by Dom Augustin Guillerand
Part 2: HOUR OF POWER! FRUITS OF THE DAILY HOLY HOUR! by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

PART 1:  Prayer as Spiritual Warfare… by Dom Augustin Guillerand (+1945)

The life of prayer calls for continuous battles. It is the most important and the longest effort in a life dedicated to God. This effort has been given a beautiful name: it is called the Guard of the Heart. The human heart is a city; it was meant to be a stronghold. Sin surrendered it.

Henceforth it is an open city, the walls of which have to be built up again. The enemy never ceases to do all he can to prevent this. He does this with his accustomed cleverness and strength, with stratagem and fury. He succeeds all along the line to distract us and entice us away from the Divine Presence.

We must always be starting again. These continual recoveries, this endless beginning again, tires and disheartens us far more than the actual fighting. We would much prefer a real battle, fierce and decisive. But God, as a rule, thinks otherwise. He would rather we were in a constant state of war.

PART 2:  HOUR OF POWER! FRUITS OF THE DAILY HOLY HOUR by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

The effects of a well-made and methodical daily “Hour-Hour” are countless! The person who seriously makes the decision to make the Daily Holy Hour, to be faithful to it, to have a determined determination to struggle through it on tough days and persevere until the end, will have a crown of glory in heaven after having done enormous good on earth!

SHINING EXAMPLE FOR THE WHOLE WORLD – VEN. ARCHBISHOP FULTON J. SHEEN

 Sheen, man of God that he was – preacher, writer, first Television/Radio Christian Catholic Evangelist, missionary, and Archbishop – would never attribute his success to himself, but rather to Jesus whom he met on a daily basis in the Blessed Sacrament by making his own personal DAILY HOLY HOUR!!  It was Sheen who popularized the saying: “The Holy Hour is the Hour of Power!”

Sheen stated bluntly in talks to priests and Bishops that at times people would not listen to them, but to him – Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen – they would listen because of the power that he was endowed with through his Daily Holy Hour – “The Hour of Power.”

Sheen once stated that in his fifty years as a priest (and many of those years as a Bishop), he never missed making even “one” Holy Hour! Not even once, in his whole life as priest and Bishop!

Occupied with writing constantly, traveling around the world, speaking engagements around the clock, Radio programs and TV programs, heading the Missionary Office of the Catholic Church, converting huge numbers of souls personally and through letters – this great man of God, even with so many commitments, would find time for Jesus every day by making his Daily Holy Hour. The key to his apostolic success was his union with Jesus, a deep and growing friendship with Jesus in his Daily Holy Hour – “The Hour of Power”!

Now, no longer is he called Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, but VENERABLE Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. That’s right! He is on the pathway to Beatification and eventually Canonization! Praise the Lord for such a brilliant and shining example for us!

After this biographical sketch of the life of one of America’s greatest heroes – and even more important, one of God’s heroes – we will proceed to give a list of the many fruits that emanate from faithfulness to the Daily Holy hour, your own HOUR OF POWER!!! With the hope that these fruits will sustain you when the enemy tries to distract you and entice you away from the Divine Presence – Your Lord, Savior, and best Friend, Jesus!

1. FRIENDSHIP WITH CHRIST. Pope Francis challenges us to cultivate a deep and growing friendship with Jesus. In The Joy of the Gospel, Pope Francis says:  “The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept His offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness. With Christ joy is constantly born anew…. I invite all Christians, everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to letting Him encounter them; I ask all of you to do this unfailingly each day. No one should think that this invitation is not meant for him or her, since ‘no one is excluded from the joy brought by the Lord’. The Lord does not disappoint those who take this risk; whenever we take a step towards Jesus, we come to realize that He is already there, waiting for us with open arms.”

Jesus at the Last Supper called His Apostles “Friends,” but He also calls you to a deep friendship with Him. We all seek friendship and union with others; that is communion!  Obviously Jesus is the best of Friends; He is the faithful Friend who will never fail us!  However, true friendships must be cultivated by visiting your friend, getting to know your friend, conversing with your friend, sharing with your friend joys and sorrows, failures and successes – in a word the most profound secrets. But even in the deepest friendships, usually something is not expressed or understood. But with Jesus we can always express our inmost thoughts, fears, sorrows, even anguishes and He indeed will understand us down to the most minute detail of our experience and our existence!

2. WORD OF GOD. The staple and substance of our meditation should be the Word of God.  Jesus told the enemy, the devil who tempted Him, that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. The Psalmist says that the Word of God is a lamp for our steps and a light for our path. Saint Jerome reminds us, “Ignorance of Sacred Scripture is ignorance of Christ.” (Dei Verbum, Vat. II documents) In our Holy Hour we can read, meditate, listen, let our hearts be moved, and talk to the Lord – there we have simple steps for a Biblical meditation!

3. DISCIPLINE.  Notice the change in your life! Once you make the decision with determination which leads to the discipline of being faithful to your Holy Hour, then you will have greater discipline in the other activities in the course of your busy schedule. One act of discipline in making the Daily Holy Hour motivates a well-ordered and disciplined life in general!

4. PEACE AND HARMONY! With discipline comes peace. What is peace? Saint Augustine defines peace as the tranquility of order.  Saint Ignatius reaffirms this using other words – namely, that the purpose of the Spiritual Exercises is to order the disordered. Our Lady of Guadalupe ordered the roses in the Tilma of Saint Juan Diego on the hill of Tepeyac in Mexico!

5. WORK: MORE DONE AND DONE BETTER! Many of us complain about lack of time to carry out our various duties in life. Often this is due to a lack of order. The Holy Hour helps us to carry out our daily obligations and be more faithful to our state of life with increased energy of will and greater peace and joy. Why is this??? The reason is clear! When we do the Daily Holy Hour we are inviting God/Jesus to be part of our whole life, all that we are and all that we do. He is the secret Companion walking with us on the Highway of Life to Eternity – like He walked with the disciples on the road to Emmaus! And He does most of the work. He says: “Come to me, all you who are weary and 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). If possible, it is best to do the Daily Holy Hour as early as possible, then the Lord Jesus accompanies you during the whole course of the day and makes your burdens light!

6. FAMILY CONVERSION AND SANCTIFICATION! Many of us have family members who have abandoned the faith, walked away from the Church, who are angry, bitter, and even antagonistic towards all that is related to God. Maybe we have talked to them, tried to convince them by the best of arguments to return, but it is simply an exercise in futility. What is lacking is PRAYER. Jesus said some devils can only be expelled through prayer and fasting. Offering your daily Holy Hour – “The Hour of Power” – so the conversion and salvation of your loved ones can prove exceedingly fruitful! Remember the many hours of prayer and tears of Saint Monica for the conversion of her son, Saint Augustine. We need more Monicas praying for conversion of sinners with their Daily Holy Hours!

7. FERVENT COMMUNIONS.  Not only does the Daily Holy Hour – the Hour of Power – serve to motivate prodigal sons, lost sheep, wandering souls to return to the Good Shepherd, but also this personal encounter with the Lord improves and upgrades our reception of Jesus in Holy Communion. The greatest act we can do on earth is to receive Jesus in Holy Communion! However, the better the preparation, the more efficacious the effects of Holy Communion in our soul!  May our Daily Holy Hours help to transform us into the One we receive in Holy Communion, remembering the words of Saint Paul: “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” (Gal. 2. 19-21)

8. CONSOLATION. In the midst of the storms, tempests, earthquakes of life, we can always find consolation, peace, refuge, solace, and an oasis when we come to our Daily Holy Hour. There are days in which the battle is fierce, the tug of the passions insistent, the devil’s attacks relentless, the seduction of the world and its false values alluring. Amidst the exterior and interior storms of life, what consolation to know that Jesus is always waiting for us to come to Him, to seek our true refuge in His Sacred Heart and in the Immaculate Heart of Mary. “Sacred Heart of Jesus I trust in you!” “Sweet Heart of Mary, be my salvation.”

9. GOOD EXAMPLE. There are many ways to preach the Word of God. Jesus’ last words were to go out to the whole world and tell the Good News. (Mt. 28: 16-20) Nonetheless, the word that we preach must be supported by the example of life that we live! The person who makes the Daily Holy Hour – the Hour of Power radiates goodness and inspires others to follow the same path! How many priests – even the one writing this article, Father Broom – have been inspired to make the Daily Holy Hour due to the preaching, but especially the “living out” of the Daily Holy Hour of Fulton Sheen. At the end of his life, Archbishop Fulton Sheen decided to preach retreats to priests and Bishops and he had one goal: to convince both priests and Bishops to make the firm commitment to make the Daily Holy Hour. If they made this with determination, Sheen knew this would transform lives, parishes, Dioceses, and the world at large!

10. HEAVEN! Of monumental importance is the attaining of Heaven. Our union with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, with Mary and the Angels and saints for all eternity, will be the end result and most sublime fruit of our faithfulness to the Daily Holy Hour. Saint Alphonsus put it bluntly, “He who prays well will be saved; he who does not pray will be damned.” (CCC on prayer). If you like, Saint Augustine expresses the same concept poetically: “He who prays well, lives well; he who lives well, dies well; and he who dies well, all is well!”

In sum, my friends, right now let us make a firm commitment with determined determination to be faithful to the Daily Holy Hour – the Hour of Power! If done faithfully you will grow in Friendship with Jesus, grow in holiness and peace of soul, work well and with order and discipline, be a source of sanctification and conversion for others, receive Jesus with greater purity of heart in Holy Communion, and most important, become one day a jewel in the crown of Mary, where you will contemplate the beauty of the unveiled Face of Jesus and enjoy His love and friendship for all eternity. Amen.

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

Monday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

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

MONDAY, JANUARY 11th   Mk. 1: 14-20   “Jesus said to them, ‘Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.’”

Part 1: Fruitful Apostolic Zeal… by Saint Maximilian Kolbe (+1941)
Part 2: FIFTEEN STEPS TO BECOME FISHERS OF MEN by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

PART 1: Fruitful Apostolic Zeal … by Saint Maximilian Kolbe (+1941)

Grace, nothing else but grace, which enlightens the mind and strengthens the will, is the cause of conversion or liberation, i.e., the deliverance of souls from the bonds of evil.

Mortification is necessary and indispensable for all of us, because by it we secure divine grace for ourselves. Like gold in the furnace, so in the fire of mortification the soul is purified, radiates its own love, and becomes more like God, more pleasing to Him, and therefore, more capable of receiving very abundant graces for itself and for others, its poor brothers. What, indeed, can one obtain by love of God without suffering?

Love for one’s neighbor. We need to love our neighbor, but not just because he is pleasant or helpful or rich or influential or even because he shows us gratitude. Genuine love rises above creatures and soars up to God. In Him, by Him, and through Him, it loves all men, both good and wicked, friends and enemies. To all it stretches out a hand filled with love; it prays for all, suffers for all, wishes what is best for all, desires happiness for all, because that is what God wants.

The Immaculate! Whoever with a prayer to the Immaculate on his lips or in the depths of his heart, purified through suffering, on fire with an ardent love of God, and inspired by that love, does what he can to win the greatest possible number of souls for God through the Immaculate, to free them from the bonds of evil, to make them happy – he, and he alone, will celebrate his triumph.

PART 2: FIFTEEN STEPS TO BECOME FISHERS OF MEN by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

In the Gospel of Saint Luke, Chapter Five, Jesus is busy with His work of preaching the Word of God. At the same time, several of His future Apostles, who were fishing all night without any success, are now cleaning their nets. Jesus asks Peter to let Him in the boat, and He continues teaching from the boat of Peter.

After Jesus has finished teaching, He tells Peter to put out into the deep and drop the nets for a catch. Even though Peter has worked hard all night and does not expect any success at that time of day, still he obeys Jesus, rows to deeper waters and lowers the nets. The result is so fantastic that Peter has to call his mates in another boat to come and help pull in the abundant catch.

Why such a catch? For the simple reason that Jesus was with Peter in the boat, Peter listened to the words of Jesus, and Peter obeyed Jesus by dropping the nets at the Lord’s command.

Like Peter, we are called to catch fish. Jesus said, “You will now be fishers of men.” That is the purpose of the apostolic life — to fish for men; in other words to drop the nets and save souls.

Following are fifteen concrete suggestions on how all of us can become “fishers of men”— to be true apostles and to collaborate with Jesus in saving immortal souls for the Kingdom of God. Prayerfully read and meditate on these suggestions! Then choose whatever projects the Holy Spirit inspires in you, talk it out with your spiritual director, and Go Fishing!

1. FAMILY MEALS AND FAMILY PRAYER. 
Eat at least one meal together each day! If it is unavoidable that one or two are working or at school, have the rest of the family gather for a meal. Encourage your family to bless the meal before eating!

2. FAMILY ROSARY.
“The family that prays together, stays together.” (Ven. Fr. Patrick Peyton) Pray the family Rosary together every night. Our Blessed Mother brings unity to a family! Let the children participate in leading the decades and naming prayer intentions for the Rosary, or even for each decade of the Rosary.

3. HOLY IMAGES.
Replace calendars with mundane and worldly images for calendars with Holy Images—pictures of Jesus, Mary, the angels and saints.

4. ENTHRONEMENT
Enthrone images of the most Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and Divine Mercy in your home. May Jesus reign as King and Mary as Queen in your home!

5. SCRIPTURE
Enthrone the Bible in a prominent place, perhaps between two candles. However, make sure that it is not simply a decoration but a book to be read and meditated upon daily. The saying is true: “He who has a Bible that is falling apart, will not have a life that is falling apart.”

6. LIBRARY
Have a good library with good books: the Bible, Lives of the Saints, Examination of Conscience, the writings of the Popes, the Fathers and Doctors of the Church, as well as good catholic magazines or newspapers. Reading a good book can save a soul! A real life example is Saint Ignatius of Loyola! Convalescing from a battle injury, he requested books on the chivalrous deeds of knights in shining armor, in other words, pulp fiction. Instead, his sister-in-law brought him the Lives of the Saints, and he was radically changed! Inspired by their love for Christ, Ignatius decided to follow in their footsteps.  

7. FILM LIBRARY
In the modern electronic world, we should keep up with the times. Especially in the past ten to fifteen years, Ignatius Press has done marvels in not only publishing excellent books but also in making available excellent movies, especially depicting the lives of the saints. Some worthy of mention are movies on Saint Augustine, Saint John Bosco, Saint Padre Pio, Saint Philip Neri, Saint Rita, Saint Bakhita, Saint Maria Goretti, Saint Therese, Saint Bernadette and The Passion of Bernadette, and Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima. There are also movies on the Popes—these were declared Venerable or Saint in the 20^th Century: Ven. Pope Pius XII, Saint Pope John XXIII, Saint Pope Paul VI, and Saint Pope John Paul II. These are just a handful of excellent films among a multitude! 

8. MOVIE NIGHT
These films are not meant to simply collect dust, but to be seen! Choose a night every week as Family Night. Buy Pizza and watch the life of a saint together, and then discuss it afterward. This could be a very powerful means by which you can evangelize yourself and your family using modern electronic media. Go for it!

9. MONTHLY CONFESSION
Let Dad decide, organize and carry out the monthly day or night of Confession. All must go! Why? We are all sinners, except Jesus and Mary! Let Mom and Dad go first so as to give good example to the children. A parent’s example speaks more powerfully than words. Monthly Confession restores peace to our souls, and that brings peace to our family! If you like, stop for an ice cream cone after to celebrate!

10. FAMILY APOSTOLATE
With the whole family why not do some type of Apostolate together, as a team? There are many options to choose from! As a family, you can walk and pray the Rosary in front of an abortion mill in defense of the unborn child. This apostolate will leave an indelible impression on your children of the value of human life, even into their adult years. Our contemplative life must overflow into our active life or apostolate.

11. BE A MARIAN APOSTLE
First of all, be fervent and faithful in praying your own daily Rosary. Moving into the apostolic field, why not get others to pray the Rosary. If your family, which is the “Domestic Church”, is not already praying the Rosary, it is never too late. START NOW! Next encourage the Rosary in your Parish. Then promote it wherever the opportunity arises.

 12. THE EXTENDED-FAMILY ROSARY
Get multiple families to pray the Rosary together on a weekly basis. It could be done outdoors or on ZOOM. Change the Host Family leading the Rosary each week. Set up an altar with a statue of Mary and candles, and light the candles before you begin. When the pandemic is over, you can have Rosary pamphlets and Rosaries available to give as gifts.

13. NOVENA OF ROSARIES
It is a very opportune time to pray the Rosary after someone dies. Even Catholics who have wandered from the fold—and they are in the millions—are vulnerable and open to praying for a deceased loved one. Why not visit the home and pray the Rosary for nine days consecutively. Again, this can be done outdoors or by ZOOM. This practice of a Novena of Rosaries is a great charity to the deceased to speed them on their way to heaven, and also serves to fortify the faith of the stronger believers and recover the faith of the weak and struggling believers.

14. FREQUENT CONFESSION

Ven. Pope Pius XII stated: “The sin of the century is the loss of the sense of sin.” There is an urgent need to form the consciences of believers, but especially of non-practicing believers. What better way than to invite them to come back to the Church by means of a good sacramental confession! Be ready with a bulletin or information on confession times. Then why not invest some resources in acquiring good Examination of Conscience booklets to help them prepare? It is interesting how people who read a detailed Examination of Conscience will often say over and over: “I didn’t know that is a sin!” Why this response? Because a poorly-formed conscience is almost universal today. At the time of Jonah, many people did not know their left hand from their right hand. Today, many people do not know their left hand from their right hand in the spiritual life! In sum, become an apostle of the Sacrament of Confession!

15. BE AN APOSTLE OF DIVINE MERCY
Jesus said, through Saint Faustina Kowalska, that His greatest attribute is His Infinite Mercy. Saint Pope John Paul II reiterated this key Christian concept in his encyclical Dives in Misericordia—God is rich in Mercy! Maybe you are called to be an apostle of Divine Mercy! How? Read the Diary of Saint Faustina and then live it out! A concrete way that this can be done is to get people to pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy at the mercy hour of 3:00 p.m. or any time.

However, there is also a special time and place to promote this wonderful practice of Divine Mercy and the praying of the Chaplet: when somebody is on their deathbed about to pass from this life into the next, to be judged by Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Why not carry on your person the small Divine Mercy prayer cards and then pass them out free of charge? Next, get as many people as possible to pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy as the dying person passes from this life into the next. The wonderful promise of Jesus is that if someone is praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy as the person is dying, then this soul will attain the Mercy of God and eternal salvation!

Therefore, become an Apostle of Divine Mercy! What an excellent manner to express apostolic zeal for the salvation of our dying brothers and sisters in Christ!

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

The Baptism of the Lord

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

 SUNDAY, JAN. 10th Mk. 1: 7-11   “And a voice came from the heavens, ‘You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.’”

Part 1:  Baptism – The Greatest Gift a Parent Gives… by Father Richard Veras
Part 2: CALLING TO MIND THE GRACES OF OUR BAPTISM by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

PART 1: Baptism – The Greatest Gift a Parent Gives… by Father Richard Veras

At the core of parents’ true love is the desire for their child’s happiness. But life shows us that parents are not able to guarantee happiness to their children. Were your parents able to spare you the suffering that life brings?

Yet parents’ inability to assure a happy destiny for their children does nothing to quell their hope for this happiness. Is this hope irrational, or is it rather deeper and more transcendent than reason can fathom?

Christian faith tells us not to give up on this desire, because all of our children have a Father who will never abandon them, and who sent His Son to die for them!

When parents present a child for baptism they are saying: “I cannot be with you always. I cannot promise the happiness for you that I so desire. However, Jesus Christ can! I desire that you be made a member of His Body, as I am, so that in Him we can walk toward the fullness of life together, through good and through bad, even when we are apart, because we will be united in Him.”

In the blessing of a mother and father after their child’s baptism, the Church prays that as the parents rejoice in their child now, they may rejoice with their child for ever before the Father in heaven! Baptism makes possible the fulfillment of the hope that we have for our children. And so we humbly and hopefully beg for Christ, and we rejoice when He comes in this first and foundational sacrament.

PART 2: CALLING TO MIND THE GRACES OF OUR BAPTISM by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

The Christmas season ends with the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the Jordan River in his 30th year given by Saint John the Baptist. The clouds were rent asunder, the dove alighted upon Jesus, and the voice of the heavenly Father could be heard clearly: “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” (Mt. 3: 13-17)

The Baptism of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ summons all of us who have received the great gift and grace of the Sacrament of Baptism to renew our baptismal promises. Listen and meditate on the profound but simple words taken from the Catechism of the Catholic Church on the Sacrament of Baptism:

Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit (vitae spiritualis ianua), and the door that gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission: Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water and the word. (Catechism of the Catholic Church # 1213)

Spiritually and supernaturally, it all started at the moment of our own baptism when the minister poured water on our forehead and pronounced the words: “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

The graces were a deluge, to say the least. Listen to all that happened the day and moment of your Baptism! Transformed into a son or daughter of God, brother or sister to Jesus Christ, intimate Friend of the Holy Spirit, temple and icon of the Blessed Trinity—all of these personal graces we receive in relationship to the Blessed Trinity when baptized.

However, more graces and gifts descended upon us in an invisible but very real way. The following are the many virtues that our soul was imbued with in the moment of Baptism: the three theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity; then the moral or cardinal virtues of justice, temperance, prudence, and fortitude. At the same time, we received the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: Wisdom, knowledge, understanding, counsel, fortitude, piety and fear of the Lord.

If that were not enough, in the moment of Baptism we became members of the Church, the Mystical Body of Christ, exorcised of the presence of the malignant enemy. With Baptism, we also received the right and privilege to the many heavenly inspirations that come from the Holy Spirit. Finally, if we live out our baptismal promises, one day eternal life will be ours! How generous and good our God is!

Given that it all started spiritually with Baptism, we are called to live out our Baptism by renouncing the devil and his seductions, renouncing the call of the world and its allurements, as well as renouncing the base promptings of our lower nature that we call the flesh. In a word, from Baptism we are all called to pursue a life of holiness, calling to mind the words of Jesus who said: “Be holy as your heavenly Father is holy.” (Mt 5:48)

What then might be some concrete ways that we can call to mind our Baptism and live out with greater energy and intention the responsibilities that flow from this great Sacrament? We will offer five practices for your meditation and reflection, as well as practical applications in your daily walk with the Lord Jesus, who was baptized in the Jordan River leaving an example for us all!

1. Baptism of Jesus.  Every year we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus, and the priest in the context of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass blesses the people with holy water. At this moment, we should renew our baptismal promises with faith, fervor, and a firm commitment to renounce sin and follow Jesus with a determined determination. We should strive to leave the darkness of sin and live in the holiness of the light of Christ, who indeed is the Light of the world.

2. Parents and Baptismal Day of their children.  It could be a very powerful teaching and catechetical moment for parents—especially for the little ones—to celebrate the Baptismal Day of their children, the same way they celebrate their birthday. Indeed, baptism is our second birth. Why not buy a cake and light the candles—according to the number of years, and celebrate the spiritual birth of your children. However, this should all be done in the context of faith and catechesis. Parents can use this moment to explain what Baptism is, what it does for our soul, and the responsibilities that flow from the Sacrament of Baptism!

3. The Sign of the Cross.  Making the sign of the cross with both faith and reverence can be an efficacious means by which our awareness of the Sacrament of Baptism can be enhanced. The great Carmelite mystic, Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity’s basic charism was a keen and acute awareness of the most Blessed Trinity living within her soul through grace. Therefore, every time we make the sign of the Cross, the sign of the Trinity and say: “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” we can call to mind our dignity from Baptism, that we are sons and daughters of God the Father, brother or sister to Jesus Christ, and a close friend of the Holy Spirit. Indeed how many sins would we avoid committing with our bodies—temples of the Blessed Trinity—if only we were aware of our dignity and our destiny. Not only are we living icons of the Trinity starting at Baptism, but our eternal destiny is to live in the bosom of the Blessed Trinity for all eternity!

4. Holy Water.  Every Christian-Catholic family should have holy water in their homes. Better yet would be to have holy water in a little holy water font at the entrance to all the bedrooms. Therefore, upon coming or leaving their bedroom, every member of the family could bless themselves with holy water for protection against the evil spirits and for the grace to live according to the dignity that flows from their Baptism. Holy water is a “holy” reminder of God in our lives!

5. Parents & Godparents: Recall and Live Your Responsibility.  Godparents of a baptized child or adult represent a much more extensive family—we belong to the Church which is the family of God. Among the many roles of Godparents, let us highlight two primary roles: 1) Prayer—Godparents should pray for their godchildren, hopefully every day at least a Hail Mary, better yet, a Rosary; 2) Good example—Godparents are called to live out the symbolism of the lighted candle—that is to say, they are called to radiate the light of good example in all they say and do. Good example has a powerful influence on others; think of the example of Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta, as well as Saint Pope John Paul II—what burning torches in a world immersed in the darkness of sin! That said, parents have a more extensive and serious role and responsibility than the Godparents. True, parents must pray for and give good example to their children, but they must go way beyond these two roles. Parents are also called to educate their children and in all aspects: human and spiritual formation of their body, mind, heart, will and soul. In a word, parents should form their children to be excellent citizens of this world and future citizens of the kingdom of heaven.

In conclusion, let us call to mind our great dignity and our great destiny; and it all starts the moment we receive the Sacrament of Baptism! Dignity? We are temples of the most Blessed Trinity once baptized. Destiny? Our end goal in life is to be united with the Blessed Trinity forever in heaven. May Our Lady who is the Daughter of God the Father, the Mother of God the Son, and the mystical Spouse of the Holy Spirit attain for us the grace to live out to the fullest extent the Sacrament of Baptism in our lives.

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

Saturday after Epiphany

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

 SATURDAY, JAN. 9th   Jn. 3: 22-30   “The one who has the bride is the bridegroom; the best man, who stands and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made complete.”

Part 1:  Joy of the Gospel (Excerpt)… by Pope Francis

Part 2: LET US LEARN TO LIVE AND LOVE THROUGH MARY IN THE MYSTERIES OF JOY, THE MYSTERIES OF LOVE! By Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

PART 1: Joy of the Gospel (Excerpt)… by Pope Francis

The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept His offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness. With Christ, joy is constantly born anew. In this Exhortation I wish to encourage the Christian faithful to embark upon a new chapter of evangelization marked by this joy, while pointing out new paths for the Church’s journey in years to come.

Thanks solely to this encounter—or renewed encounter—with God’s love, which blossoms into an enriching friendship, we are liberated from our narrowness and self-absorption. We become fully human when we become more than human, when we let God bring us beyond ourselves in order to attain the fullest truth of our being. Here we find the source and inspiration of all our efforts at evangelization. For if we have received the love which restores meaning to our lives, how can we fail to share that love with others?

I invite all Christians, everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to letting Him encounter them; I ask all of you to do this unfailingly each day. No one should think that this invitation is not meant for him or her, since “no one is excluded from the joy brought by the Lord”. The Lord does not disappoint those who take this risk; whenever we take a step towards Jesus, we come to realize that he is already there, waiting for us with open arms.

PART 2: LET US LEARN TO LIVE AND LOVE THROUGH MARY IN THE MYSTERIES OF JOY, THE MYSTERIES OF LOVE! By Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

Mary is the quickest, shortest, easiest path to Jesus. We can call her the shortcut! We are all called to holiness—meaning to be saints. Jesus said: “Be holy as your heavenly Father is holy.” (Mt. 5:48) This is a command! Therefore, the Holy Mother of God, Mary most holy can help us in our joyful pursuit of holiness which ends in heaven.

THE MOST HOLY ROSARY. One of the most efficacious tools, or we might even call it a spiritual weapon, that we should use to fight the good fight and run the good race so as to win the victory and prize of eternal life, is the MOST HOLY ROSARY. Over the centuries, the saints and popes have strongly encouraged the faithful to pray the Rosary and to trust in Mary’s most powerful intercession. The prayer of Saint Bernard encapsulates this truth in the famous Marian prayer The Memorare, with these words: “Never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection was left unaided.”

MYSTERIES OF JOY, MYSTERIES OF LOVE. In this short essay we will focus on how we can learn to live for God, love God, and be truly happy, by offering a few brief suggestions taken from the five Joyful Mysteries of the most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Rosary is a spiritual gold-mine for us to dig into; so let us dig in now!

1. THE ANNUNCIATION. (Lk. 1:26-38) Mary encounters God through His angelic messenger, the Archangel Gabriel. We offer three precious pearls to glean and polish from this profound encounter.

a) LISTEN AND TALK TO GOD. Mary teaches us the importance of silence in our lives. Mary teaches us the importance of listening to God, especially through the Word of God. Mary teaches us the importance of talking to God—that means the real importance of prayer, of talking to God with fervor and devotion from the depths of our hearts. Mary, teach me how to pray!

b) SAYING YES TO GOD: THE KEY TO HAPPINESS. All of us are given freedom to choose between good and bad; we can use or abuse our freedom. Mary said YES to God in these words: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to your word.” (Lk.1:38) This is a universal truth: we all want to be happy in this world and always! Why then is it that so many people today want to be happy but walk around with a sad face that they display to the whole world? The reason is very clear: they say NO to God. Our Lady teaches us true freedom and the key to true joy: learning to say YES to God! Starting today, through the intercession of Mary, let us learn to say Yes to God.

c) MARY TEACHES US HOW TO RECEIVE JESUS IN OUR HEARTS. By saying YES to God, Mary conceived Jesus in her most pure womb and the depths of her most pure and Immaculate Heart. Saint Pope John Paul II makes a beautiful parallel between Mary’s YES to God and our AMEN when we receive Jesus in Holy Communion. The end result of Mary’s YES and our AMEN in Holy Communion is the reception of Jesus into our hearts. Let us beg, through the intercession of Mary, to always say YES to God and receive Jesus with burning love in our hearts in Holy Communion.

2. THE VISITATION OF MARY TO ELIZABETH. Like the Annunciation, this Mystery is rich in teaching and growth in holiness for us if we talk to Mary and try to imitate her. Let us take three lessons.
 
a) AVOID LAZINESS. Once Mary knew what the will of God was, she did not wait, or procrastinate, or put it off until tomorrow. Rather, she went quickly or in haste. Let us avoid laziness in all times, places, and circumstances. The proverb is so true: “Idleness is the workshop of the devil.”

b) GREETING WITH JOY. Let us learn from Mary not to wait for others to greet us, but to greet others FIRST and with joy! This is humility and charity—meaning, putting others first and valuing them for their innate dignity.

c) SERVICE IS A SOURCE OF JOY. Mary went to visit her elderly cousin, Saint Elizabeth, who was pregnant in her old age, so as to be at her service in her needs. Saint Paul teaches us: “There is more joy in giving than in receiving.” (Acts: 20:35) Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta said: “We must learn to give until it hurts.” Starting today let us make it a firm proposal: I will look for opportunities to serve others in imitation of Mary, who went to visit and serve Saint Elizabeth! If done, we will experience deep joy within our souls.

3. THE BIRTH OF JESUS IN BETHLEHEM. In this mystery we celebrate the most important birthday in the history of the world—the birth of Jesus, that we call CHRISTMAS. The birth of Jesus separated the division of time into B.C. and A.D. The lessons that Mary can teach us are innumerable. We will offer three!

a) LIFE IS A JOURNEY. Mary went on a long journey and arrived at her destination, Bethlehem. Our life is a journey towards heaven. Let us ask Mary, Saint Joseph, and of course, Jesus, to accompany us every step along the way in our journey towards our final destination, HEAVEN!

b) ACCEPTING TRIALS AND REJECTION. Mary experienced many trials, contradictions, and sufferings in her life, but she trusted God even more. Upon arriving, she experienced rejection: “There was no room for them in the Inn!” (Lk. 2:7) When we experience trials, sufferings, and rejection in our lives, we should run to Mary and seek refuge. Immaculate Heart of Mary, be my sure refuge!

c) POVERTY. Mary and the Holy Family chose to experience and live a life of poverty. One of the biggest obstacles in the modern society is MATERIALISM—that means, being too attached to material things. If you like: our possessions, possess us. Jesus was born of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the poor, cold, damp, bad-smelling stable (refuge for animals) of Bethlehem. Mary, please teach me that true happiness does not come from possessing things, but by allowing God to possess me!

4. THE PRESENTATION OF JESUS IN THE TEMPLE. When Jesus was only 40 days old, He was presented in the Temple through the hands of the Blessed Virgin Mary and good Saint Joseph. Once again, we will offer three wonderful lessons from this fourth Joyful Mystery.

a) OBEDIENCE. Mary and Saint Joseph obeyed God by presenting their first born son in the Temple of Jerusalem as prescribed by the Mosaic Law. If we truly want to experience joy in the depths of our souls, then we must learn to imitate Mary in the virtue of obedience. Those in the modern world desire all too often to follow their own will, which leads to sadness and eventual destruction. Like Mary, may we learn to obey the Word of God, the Church and Magisterial teachings, and a well-formed conscience.

b) LIGHT TO ALL THE WORLD. Jesus in the arms of Mary is presented to the elderly Simeon who calls Jesus LUMEN GENTIUM—Light for the People. Mary teaches us that Jesus must be our true and overflowing Light. Mary, my Mother, give me eyes to perceive the Light of Jesus in the world, in my life, and in all the circumstances of my life.

c) THE SWORD OF SORROW. The Prophecy of Simeon entailed announcing that Jesus would be a sign of contradiction, and that a sword of sorrow would penetrate the heart of Mary. The meaning may be difficult for us to understand, and possibly even more difficult to put into practice: the value of suffering. We must learn to offer our sufferings to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary and these sufferings will have infinite value! “We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.”

5. THE FINDING OF JESUS IN THE TEMPLE.  Present in this fifth and last Joyful Mystery is a hidden sorrow, but great joy. The sorrow of course is that Mary and Joseph lose Jesus for three long days. The joy of course is in finding Jesus. There is much for us to meditate upon in this Mystery. However, we will give three golden nuggets!

a) MANY PARENTS LOSE THEIR CHILDREN. Today many parents can identify very easily with this Mystery because they lose their children in that their children no longer want to practice their faith. This pierces their parents’ hearts. Mary teaches us not to give up hope, but to pursue our children through prayer, patience, and trust that they will find their way back to God. Saint Monica did this and her son, the wandering Prodigal Son of the 5th century, became the great SAINT AUGUSTINE.

b) JESUS AND MARY AS OUR TEACHERS. After three long days of sorrowful search, Our Lady finally found her Son, Jesus. Where was He? Jesus was found in the Temple teaching the older men. Among the numerous lessons that we can glean is the following: Jesus and Mary must be our Teachers. PERMANENT FORMATION! One of the key struggles and failures in many adults is the unwillingness to study so as to grow in their faith; thus they remain stagnant and stultified in their faith. Jesus and Mary teach us the primary obligation parents have of transmitting their faith to their children. However, you cannot give what you do not have! Let us beg our Lady for the grace to really desire to learn our faith better so as to be better teachers to our children!

c) MARY PONDERS IN HER HEART. Upon finding Jesus, Mary and Joseph rejoiced, even though they did not fully understand the words of Jesus: “Did you not know that I had to be in my Father’s house?” (Lk. 2:17) Mary for her part pondered these things in her Immaculate Heart. Mary teaches all of us the importance of praying, meditating, and pondering in our hearts the Word of God, the circumstances in our life, and even the surprises and contradictions that we encounter all so often. Let us pray to Mary and beg her to attain for us a contemplative heart! Let us beg Our Lady for the grace to perceive God’s work in us always! For, “In Him we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28)

Conclusion. We hope and pray that all will understand the call to JOY in our lives. This joy can be learned in the life, words, and example of the Blessed Virgin Mary and most especially through the mysteries of the Rosary, starting with the JOYFUL MYSTERIES. Our Lady teaches this lesson in her beautiful prayer that we call the Magnificat: My soul doth magnify the Lord and my spirit REJOICES IN GOD MY SAVIOR…(Lk. 1:47) By calling upon Mary, let us learn that true joy comes through deeper and deeper union with God!

 

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

Friday after Epiphany

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

FRIDAY, JAN. 8th   Lk. 5: 12-16  “It happened that there was a man full of leprosy in one of the towns where Jesus was; and when he saw Jesus, he fell prostrate, pleaded with him, and said, ‘Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.’ Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, ‘I do will it. Be made clean.’ And the leprosy left him immediately.”

• Leprosy of the body can be likened to leprosy of the soul – we call it Sin. Just as Jesus healed leprosy of the body, today He heals the leprosy of our souls.

Part 1:  On Confession (Excerpt)…by Saint Francis de Sales
Part 2: CONFESSION AND GOD’S HEALING MERCY by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

PART 1:  On Confession (Excerpt) by St. Francis de Sales (Taken from “Second Part of the Introduction to the Devout Life” — Ch. 19.)

Our Savior has bequeathed the Sacrament of Penitence and Confession to His Church, [49] in order that therein we may be cleansed from all our sins, however and whenever we may have been soiled thereby. Therefore, my child, never allow your heart to abide heavy with sin, seeing that there is so sure and safe a remedy at hand…

Make your confession humbly and devoutly every week…even though your conscience is not burdened with mortal sin; for in confession you do not only receive absolution for your venial sins, but you also receive great strength to help you in avoiding them henceforth, clearer light to discover your failings, and abundant grace to make up whatever loss you have incurred through those faults. You exercise the graces of humility, obedience, simplicity and love, and by this one act of confession you practice more virtue than in any other.

Be sure always to entertain a hearty sorrow for the sins you confess, however small they are; as also a steadfast resolution to correct them in future. Some people go on confessing venial sins out of mere habit, and conventionally, without making any effort to correct them, thereby losing a great deal of spiritual good.

Beware of unmeaning self-accusations, made out of a mere routine, such as, “I have not loved God as much as I ought; I have not prayed with as much devotion as I ought; I have not loved my neighbor as I ought; I have not received the Sacraments with sufficient reverence;” and the like. Such things as these are altogether useless in setting the state of your conscience before your Confessor, inasmuch as all the Saints in Paradise and all men living would say the same.

But examine closely what special reason you have for accusing yourself thus, and when you have discovered it, accuse yourself simply and plainly of your fault. So again, do not accuse yourself of not having prayed to God with sufficient devotion; but if you have given way to voluntary distractions, or if you have neglected the proper circumstances of devout prayer–whether place, time, or attitude–say so plainly, just as it is, and do not deal in generalities, which, so to say, blow neither hot nor cold.

PART 2:  CONFESSION AND GOD’S HEALING MERCY by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

One of the greatest gifts that our merciful Savior gave to the world was the Sacrament of Confession. Jesus came to the Apostles and then breathed the Holy Spirit upon them and said: “Receive the Holy Spirit; whose sins you forgive, shall be forgiven; whose sins you retain, shall be retained.” (Jn. 20:21-23)

In this moment, with these words and with the breathing forth of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, Jesus instituted the Sacrament of His Infinite Mercy that we call the Sacrament of Confession, Penance, Reconciliation, Forgiveness.

In this brief essay we would like to encourage all to have great trust in God’s Mercy and to approach with trust, confidence, humility and faith the Sacrament of Confession. We will offer ten short encouraging words and suggestions to help us receive this great Sacrament more worthily.

Trust in God’s Infinite Mercy

Jesus complained to Saint Faustina saying that the greatest sin that wounds His Sacred Heart most is a lack of trust in His Infinite Mercy. Jesus said that if a sinner had as many sins as the grains of sand on the seashore, if they simply trusted in His Mercy, that would be enough to engulf and swallow those sins in the ocean of His Mercy. Saint Paul reminds us: “Where sin abounds, God’s mercy abounds all the more.” (Rom. 5:20) Indeed, the greatest sinners can become the greatest saints if they simply trust unreservedly in God’s Mercy. Examples abound: Mary Magdalene, the Good thief, Saint Augustine, Saint Margaret of Cortona, Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Saint Camillus de Lelis, Saint Mary of Egypt, and many more! 

Preparation

Prepare yourself well for the reception of the Sacraments. In fact, sacramental theology enunciates this important principle: one receives grace in proportion to the disposition of the heart and the prior preparation before receiving the Sacrament. Therefore, have a good examination of conscience booklet at hand. Give yourself time to prepare for this encounter with your loving and merciful Savior. Do your examination in silence and beg the Holy Spirit to assist you in your soul-searching. Write down the sins on a sheet of paper so that when you go to the priest, who represents Christ, you will not draw a blank due to nervousness. The better the preparation, the better the results—as is the case in any practice!

Personal Encounter with Christ

Strive to understand that our religion is fundamentally a personal relationship and friendship with Jesus. Jesus indeed is the friend who will never fail us. If we can understand that the essence of sin is hurting the One who loves us most, the One who desires a deep friendship with us, the One who died shedding every drop of His precious Blood on the cross for us, then it will be much easier to avoid sin in the future. At the Last Supper Jesus called the Apostles friends; we, too, are the friends of Jesus. Sin is not so much breaking a rule, but breaking the loving Heart of Jesus, our best friend!

Appreciate the Sacrament, the Graces, and the Opportunity

A constant danger for practicing Catholics is to take the Sacraments for granted. As in a marriage, it is always possible to take one’s spouse for granted. Likewise, we can take Jesus and His Sacraments for granted. Our attitude should be such that every time we receive the Eucharist, as well as Confession, we should receive the Sacrament as if it is our last time and we will be judged upon the way we receive the Sacrament. As the sign in some sacristies reminds the priest: “Say Mass as if it were your first Mass, your last Mass, and your only Mass.” So every time we approach this Sacrament of God’s Mercy may we strive to make our Confession as if it were our first, last, and only Confession!

Firm Purpose of Amendment

There are five steps in making a good confession:

1. Examination of Conscience.
2. Sorrow for sin.
3. Firm Purpose of Amendment.
4. Confession of sins to the priest.
5. Carry out the penance given by the priest.

The third step, in many penitents, should be improved. By this we mean that to confess well there must be a firm commitment on our part to avoid any person, place, thing or circumstance that could lead us into the snares of sin. This demands self-examination, self-knowledge, humility, and fortitude. This also demands rewinding the film of our life to see where, why, when, how, and who it was that led us into sin. There are many sayings that spell this out: “He who does not know history, is condemned to repeat the same errors.” Socrates stated: “A life that is not examined is a life that is not worth living.”

A key proverb of the Desert Fathers says it in two succinct words: Know thyself! If you like, use an image from Superman, we have to know our own Kryptonite—our own weak point, or our own Achilles heel!

Pray for the Priest Confessor

On one occasion, Saint Faustina left the confessional and felt intranquil, lacking the peace that she usually experienced after making her sacramental confession. Jesus appeared to her and told her the reason for this lack of peace was because she did not pray for the priest Confessor before entering the confessional. A short prayer for the priest Confessor—a Hail Mary or prayer to the Holy Spirit or prayer to their Guardian angel—can dramatically improve one’s confession. Try it!

Qualities of a Good Confession   

In the Diary of Saint Faustina, Jesus highlights three indispensable conditions for a good confession. They are: transparency, humility and obedience. When we confess to the priest, who really represents Jesus, the Divine Physician, we should be as clear and transparent as possible. Next, we should never try to justify, rationalize, or blame others for our sins and that means, we should be humble. Finally, we should obey whatever advice or counsel the priest gives us, recognizing that the priest acts in the person of Christ.

Confess Frequently

It is of capital importance in the spiritual life to receive the sacraments well, but also with great frequency. The Church allows, as well as encourages frequent Confession as a most efficacious means to grow in holiness. One is obliged to confess mortal sins in number and species (kind of sin). However, the saints and Popes strongly encourage us to confess even venial sins; this is called a “Confession of Devotion.” One could also confess past mortal sins already forgiven and renew sorrow for them. All too often, sins leave a deeply ingrained habit or stain in our soul. Frequent Confession serves to gradually expunge and eliminate the stain! The warning, however, is to avoid making mechanical, routine or perfunctory confessions—to confess without sincere sorrow and any firm purpose to amend our ways!

Clarify Doubts

If it is such that there is some confusion, doubt or uncertainty about some moral matter, or personal behavior, then you should be humble and forthright and ask your confessor to clarify the doubt. In other words, moral theology teaches us that we should never act on a doubtful conscience. On the contrary, we should clarify the moral question with our confessor before acting. Having a well-formed conscience, and a pure and clear conscience due to sincere and well prepared confessions—gives interior peace of soul, one of the greatest gifts that you can experience this side of heaven.

Thanksgiving

After you have completed your confession, make sure that you thank God abundantly for His Infinite Mercy, for His kindness, for His compassion, and for the gift of the Sacrament of Confession. God rejoices in the hearts of those generous souls who render Him constant thanksgiving. May the prayer of the Psalmist be our prayer: “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His mercy endures forever.” (Ps. 136:1)

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