Feast of the Holy Innocents, martyrs

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

MONDAY, DECEMBER 28th   Mt. 2:13-18   “A voice was heard in Ramah, sobbing and loud lamentation; Rachel weeping for her children, and she would not be consoled, since they were no more.”

Part 1: The Holy Innocents… from a sermon by St. Quodvultdeus
Part 2: LIVING OUT THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

 The Holy Innocents… from a Sermon by St. Quodvultdeus (+450 St. Augustine was his spiritual teacher.)

The children die for Christ, though they do not know it. The parents mourn for the death of Martyrs. The Child makes of those as yet unable to speak, fit witnesses to Himself. See the kind of kingdom that is His, coming as He did in order to be this kind of King. See how the Deliverer is already working deliverance, the Savior already working salvation. But you, Herod, do not know this and are disturbed and furious. While you vent your fury against the Child, you are already paying Him homage, and do not know it.  

How great a gift of grace is here! To what merits of their own do the children owe this kind of victory? They cannot speak, yet they bear witness to Christ. They cannot use their limbs to engage in battle, yet already they bear off the Palm of Victory.

• There is no Christmas without the cross. The shadow of the cross falls over the manger where the new-born Savior lies. The Holy Innocents wave their Palms of Victory to greet Him! The blood of these infant martyrs anticipates Christ’s Cross of Victory that will give meaning to all martyrdoms.
• Not all called to shed their blood with Christ for the salvation of souls. But are all called to prayer, penance, and almsgiving for the salvation of immortal souls!
• Undeniably the most powerful and efficacious prayer is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, for it is not the work of man but rather Opus Dei—the work of God. That being said, how can we make our Masses more efficacious and fruitful for our own salvation and the salvation of many others? Fr. Ed Broom gives us the answer!

 PART 2: LIVING OUT THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

God’s graces indeed are infinite…

One of the most clear, interesting, and exciting explanations of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is presented in the movie: THE GREATEST MIRACLE. Relatively short—only about 70 minutes, filmed in Claymation with attractive scenes, melodious, joyful and uplifting music, and a powerful message—all Catholics should view it!

Even though of the greatest simplicity, this dynamic cinema masterpiece addresses and responds to one of the most important philosophical and theological questions and yearnings: the universal call to happiness. How true, in all times, all places, all circumstances, and all persons, there is a great desire to be happy.

We will never meet someone who will say point blank: “Well today is Monday, it is my day to be sad, but then Tuesday, I will go back to being happy!” Absurd! In all times and places, all of us want to attain a state of happiness, and especially, though many do not realize it, eternal happiness in Heaven.

Addressing the topic of happiness and its contrary, the movie THE GREATEST MIRACLE manifests how three individuals move from a state of sadness and desolation to a state of exuberant joy and consolation. The transformation is both profound and rapid.

The three major protagonists of the movie, two widows and a bus-driver with a son dying of terminal cancer, move on with life without any set goal until they meet up with their Guardian Angel. This inconspicuous friend of God (the Guardian Angel) knows exactly where and how this sadness can be transformed into radiant joy. Quite simply: Holy Mass, Holy Communion, and living out the Mass as an offering to God.

In the middle of the movie, the Guardian Angel makes a very poignant comment as he watches a couple come in late for Holy Mass, distracted and not paying attention. In essence, the Angel says that this couple—as well as many people—get little out of Mass because they do not pay attention to Holy Mass. They do not really participate in Holy Mass.

Holy Mass has Infinite value; indeed, it is THE GREATEST MIRACLE! However, Sacramental Theology teaches with penetrating clarity that the graces one receives are in direct proportion to the disposition of one’s soul. This is called the Theology of Dispositive grace. In a word, the better the preparation, and the more active and intense the participation, the more abundant the graces from God, the Author of all graces. The Dogmatic Constitution from the Documents of Vatican II states unequivocally that in Mass the laity should strive to participate fully, actively, and consciously.

PRIESTHOOD. Vatican II also points out the two forms of the priesthood: the Ministerial priesthood—that is to say, the man who has received the Sacrament of Holy Orders; then the Common priesthood of the faithful—every baptized Catholic.

OFFERTORY AND HOLY MASS. One of the most important manners in which the laity can live out their Common priesthood is in living out Holy Mass by participating to the max in this greatest of all prayers—the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

GUARDIAN ANGEL AND THE OFFERTORY. In the movie THE GREATEST MIRACLE, the Guardian Angel insists that everybody should participate in Holy Mass by making their own personal offerings. True, the Parish priest may have a specific offering/intention for that Mass. However, that does not exclude private intentions. You can offer as many intentions as your heart desires.

Therefore, we would like to help all to derive more abundant fruit from every Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The remaining part of our conversation will be to offer to all, various suggestions to motivate all to make a concerted effort to live out to the max the Holy Mass by living out the Offertory. By this we mean, before Mass make sure that you offer your own intention, or better said, your own many intentions! The more intentions you bring to God, the happier God is. As expressed in the Diary of Saint Faustina: “Ask with BOLD CONFIDENCE!!!” Jesus Himself ordered us: “Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened.” (Mt. 7:7) Your intentions can be as many and as varied as your imagination can dream of!

INTENTIONS TO BRING TO THE HOLY MASS

1. THE SOULS IN PURGATORY. These poor, suffering souls are saved because they died in the state of sanctifying grace, though still needing purification. The Book of Revelation speaks clearly that nothing impure can enter the Kingdom of God. The movie THE GREATEST MIRACLE has a scene where the elderly widow Dona Cata, a very pure soul, receives Holy Communion, and the Guardian Angel descends into Purgatory and brings a soul detained there to Heaven. The souls yearn for the Precious Blood of Jesus to wash away their sins so that they can take flight to Heaven. We can never go wrong by praying for the souls in Purgatory, especially at Holy Mass! It is a huge act of charity!

2. CONVERSION OF FAMILY MEMBERS. All of us are surrounded by family members who are heading in the wrong direction, and some of them at an accelerated and alarming pace. Some might be very close to the precipice, ready to plunge into the eternal flames of hell. This being the sad state of affairs, offer your Mass and Holy Communion for their conversion, for the love of God, and for their eternal salvation. Many of your family members depend upon your Masses and Holy Communions!

3. CONVERSION OF DEATH-BED SINNERS. Of even greater importance in the offering of your Mass and Holy Communion is to pray for those who are on their deathbed about to leave this world and go before the judgment seat of God. Once again, in the Diary of Saint Faustina, Jesus insists that prayers be offered in a most special way for the dying in order to help them overcome suffering from desolation, and even more important, to renounce mortal sin. In this most critical time of their life, special graces are exceedingly necessary. No more abundant graces flow through the Sacred Heart of Jesus than when He is offered to the Eternal Father in Holy Mass!

4. VOCATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD AND RELIGIOUS LIFE. On one occasion Jesus, looking out at people who were like sheep without a Shepherd, expressed with a heavy heart: “The harvest is rich, but the laborers are few. Beg the Lord of the harvest to send more laborers.” (Mt. 9:37-38) Therefore, a very important intention for which you can offer your own Mass participation would be that of praying for vocations, and most important, holy vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life. How true: the harvest is rich but the laborers all too few!

5. THE SANCTIFICATION OF THE PRIESTHOOD AND RELIGIOUS LIFE. As a sequel or follow up to the fervent intention offered for future vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life should be the offering of Mass and Holy Communion for priests and Religious already ordained and/or consecrated. How important it is to pray for the perseverance of both priests and Religious. Even more, we must pray that priests, Bishops and Religious strive to become great saints. Many souls depend upon the holiness of both priests and Religious, your own soul included!

6. IN REPARATION FOR THE VAST DELUGE OF SINS. Our Lady of Fatima, through the Guardian Angel, invited the three little Shepherd children, Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta to receive Holy Communion, but a Communion of Reparation for the many sins that offend God so much. There is no more powerful and efficacious means to offer due reparation to God then the offering of His Son, Jesus, the spotless Victim on the altar in reparation for the many sins of the world, a real deluge of sins.

7. YOUR OWN PERSONAL SINS. On a personal note, we all have our own personal moral failures; we call these personal sins. By far there is no more efficacious means by which we can offer due reparation for our own sins than by offering our Mass and Holy Communion. Indeed, one Mass and Holy Communion is sufficient to repair for all of the sins of the world, and that includes our own many failures. “Eternal Father, I offer you the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of your only begotten Son in atonement for my sins and those of the whole world.” What a great penance this would be from the priest to a penitent to repair for their many sins!

8. A PERSONAL HEART-TRANSPLANT. As a result of Original Sin, as well as personal sin, we all struggle with our own sinfulness, our own bad habits, our own Kryptonite (our major weakness). In all truth, until the Lord calls us from this life to the next, our life is a struggle between the flesh and the spirit, good and bad, darkness and light that are waging fierce battles within our own soul. If we wage this battle wielding only our own natural resources, then we are definitely doomed to die spiritually. As Jesus reminds us: “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Mt. 26:40) However, if we rely upon the Lord and His sanctity then the victory is ours because it is the Lord’s. “Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth.” (Ps. 124:8) Therefore, when we attend Holy Mass and receive Holy Communion, in all truth, we receive the Total Christ (Saint Augustine)—His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. Which, of course, includes His Sacred Heart. Now all of the virtues in the highest degree are present in Jesus’ Sacred Heart in every Mass and every Holy Communion. So we can beg the Lord to fill us with all the virtues, especially the virtue that we most need. Patience, obedience, meekness, purity, kindness, fortitude, mortification, faith, trust, burning love, intelligence, prayerfulness and many more are the virtues that are present in Holy Communion well received, because we truly receive in Holy Communion the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This Sacred Heart of Jesus in Holy Communion is a burning furnace of charity that desires so much to consume all that is ignoble and sinful within us. Our goal in life should be that expressed by Saint Paul: “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” (Gal. 2:20)

9. PRAYERS, SUPPLICATIONS, PETITIONS, INTERCESSIONS IN GENERAL… What the world needs now more than ever is prayer and Eucharistic prayer-warriors. As we prepare for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, we can place on the altar the many prayer intentions that are related to international affairs, national affairs, Church affairs, local Church affairs, family matters and problems, the many friends or relatives who have asked for our prayers, the pandemic, the sick, the suffering, the poor, the lonely and abandoned, and once again the dying. All should be prayed for with the perspective of God’s holy will—the salvation of souls and the reality of eternity. In other words, the intentions that we can deposit on the altar, on the paten and chalice of the priest, have no limits! Indeed, God is very pleased when like little children, we constantly beg for what we, as well as our world, desperately need.

10. THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF MARY IN THE MASS AND OFFERTORY. In the fourth Joyful Mystery, we contemplate Mary offering Jesus in the Temple. Simeon takes the Divine Child in His arms and praises and thanks God. He also makes a prophecy of the future suffering of both Jesus and Mary. Jesus will be a sign of contradiction; Mary, for her part, will have her Heart pierced by a sharp sword. Our Mass offerings and intentions will become all the more efficacious if it is done through the intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Often the saintly Mother Teresa of Calcutta would prepare for Holy Communion by asking Mary to lend her Mary’s Immaculate Heart, so that she could love Jesus with Mary’s Immaculate Heart. Saint Louis de Montfort and many other saints agree that Mary is the shortest, the quickest, and the most efficacious path to Jesus. Therefore, place of all your many Mass intentions in the hands of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The results will be extraordinary.

In conclusion, my friends in Jesus and Mary, let us humbly beg for the grace to live out the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass with the best disposition possible. Before Mass let us always make our own special intentions. Let us not be timid or fearful in our offerings. Quite the contrary, let us offer as many intentions as possible and ask with bold confidence. How pleasing this is to God! And never forget to go to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Holy Communion through the most pure and holy Immaculate Heart of Mary.

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

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

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

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27th   Lk. 2: 22-40   “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted—and you yourself a sword will pierce—so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

• The shadow of the cross lays over Mary’s Immaculate Heart this day, just as the shadow of the cross lays over the new-born Savior in the manger. Let us console our Blessed Mother in her sorrows.
  
• We too have crosses that lay heavy on our hearts. We cannot console Mary without being consoled ourselves! Loving Mother that she is, Mary desires to share our troubles and our sorrows.
  

CONSOLING THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

After Jesus, nobody has loved us more than Mary in her most pure Immaculate Heart. Also, after the sufferings of Jesus, there is nobody on earth who suffered more than Mary.

THE SEVEN SORROWS OF MARY. The Church invites us to contemplate the Passion and death of Jesus through the eyes and Heart of Mary. Classically, there are seven sorrows of Mary. Especially the Franciscans have a charism of promoting this powerful devotion. These seven sorrows start when Jesus is a little baby in the arms of Mary and continue through Jesus’ mangled, bloody, sword-pierced Body in the arms of Mary at the foot of the cross, if you like, the Pieta of Michelangelo!

THE CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF THE SORROWS OF MARY. The following is an orderly chronological listing of the seven sorrows of Mary, from the Infancy of Jesus to His death, being taken from the cross and laid in the arms of Mary, ending with His burial.

1. PROPHECY OF SIMEON—A sword will pierce your heart.
2. FLIGHT INTO EGYPT—Herod in pursuit to kill the Child Jesus.
3. JESUS LOST IN THE TEMPLE—Mary’s sorrow in losing Jesus for three days!
4. MARY MEETS JESUS ON CALVARY—Mary’s eyes meet the eyes of Jesus as He carries the cross.
5. CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS—Mary present and witnessing the crucifixion of her Beloved Son.
6. LOWERING OF JESUS’ BODY INTO MARY’S ARMS—After He has died, the crucified Body of Jesus is lowered into the arms of Mary.
7. BURIAL OF JESUS—The separation of Jesus and Mary with the burial of Jesus.

In each one of these seven sorrows of Mary, we are invited to enter into the mind, soul, and Immaculate Heart of Mary to experience, at least to a limited degree, some of the sorrow of Mary and then to console her. If we truly love a person we want to share our life with that person, in good times and in bad, in health and in sickness, in riches and in poverty, until death do we part (Marriage promises). Our love for Jesus and Mary can and should far transcend our love on a human and natural level. As the Song of Songs expresses it: Love is stronger than death.

Therefore, we will offer some concrete means by which we can contemplate the sorrows of Mary and at the same time offer her our consolation. The lover rejoices with the beloved, but is also willing to weep and suffer in the pains and sorrows of the beloved.

1. THE PROPHECY OF SIMEON. “A sword of sorrow will pass your heart so that the thoughts of many may be revealed.” A concrete way in which we can console the Heart of Mary in this contemplation would be to go to confession in honor of Mary. Mary’s powerful prayers and presence will attain for us the grace to examine our conscience and reveal our inmost secrets of conscience to the priest who represents Jesus. The end result will be absolution, forgiveness, and re-birth into a life of grace. Mary, whose title is full of grace, rejoices each time we open up our mind, heart, and soul to Jesus’ Infinite Mercy in Confession.

2. THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT.  Saint Joseph got up and taking the Mother and the Child fled into Egypt. How can we console the Heart of Mary in this painful sorrow? We live in perpetual spiritual combat, spiritual warfare. We can console the Heart of Mary by imitating good Saint Joseph in fleeing from moral evil, that we call temptation to sin. When you are tempted to sin, run to Mary; throw yourself into the arms of Mary; seek refuge in the Immaculate Heart of Mary. She is our sure refuge!

3. THE LOSING AND FINDING OF JESUS IN THE TEMPLE. After three days of sorrowful searching, they found Jesus in the temple listening to and teaching the Jewish teachers. What might be a concrete application of this third sorrow of Mary? Many mothers and fathers over the past fifty years have lost their children spiritually. That is to say, despite the hard efforts of their parents, children still wander from the faith, no longer assist at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and worse still, willfully choose a sinful lifestyle. Just as Jesus was lost and Mary suffered excruciating pains, so do parents suffer intensely at the moral and spiritual loss of their children whom they love so much! Like Saint Monica and the eventual conversion of Saint Augustine, why not pray, and pray especially many Rosaries that these lost and wandering prodigal sons and daughters, these lost sheep of the fold, will return. In other words, through the Holy Rosary, place these children in the Heart of Mary. O gracious Virgin Mary, never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession was left unaided.” (Memorare)

4. JESUS MEETS MARY ON THE WAY OF THE CROSS. As Jesus climbs Calvary on His way to crucifixion, He meets His Mother Mary. A concrete manner in which we can console Mary is to imitate Jesus by carrying our own crosses. However, with this important stipulation: share your crosses with Mary. The mere presence of Mary contemplating Jesus with the cross on His shoulders, consoled Jesus. Dig deep into your own heart so as to identify your biggest cross, as well as your smaller ones. Then bring these crosses to the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary. Imitating a little child in the arms of his mother, talk to Mary about these crosses. She is very interested in helping you carry your crosses with faith, confidence, trust, and love. Often our crosses are overwhelming; they are just too heavy and splintery to carry because we are trying to carry them by ourselves, without inviting Mary to help us! We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

5. JESUS SUFFERS AND DIES ON THE CROSS—WITH MARY AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS. In this most painful mystery of the crucifixion, passion, suffering and death of Jesus, Mary —Our Lady of Sorrows, was present the whole time. Jesus spoke from the cross to John and Mary: “Woman behold thy son; son behold thy mother. The disciple took her into his home.” In that moment, Jesus gave Mary—in the person of Saint John—to the world as the universal spiritual Mother, and in particular as your Mother and my Mother! Our way to console Mary in this mystery? Imitate Saint Juan Diego and the little boy in the movie Miracle of Marcelino or Marcelino, pan y vino. In what way? Very simple, be like a small child and tell Mary everything that happens in your life. Trust unreservedly and totally in the Maternal Presence and Loving Heart of your Mother Mary. This consoles our Mother and gives her great joy.

6. JESUS PLACED IN THE ARMS OF MARY. The artist Michelangelo depicted this masterfully in the famous Pieta. The film-producer Mel Gibson presented this in the movie The Passion of the Christ in a most powerful and moving fashion. How can we console the Heart of Mary? To love Jesus is to love Mary; they are inseparable! The suffering Body of Jesus is present in His Mystical Body, the Church. In a most powerful and special way, the Body of Christ comes to us in the greatest of all the Sacraments, the most Holy Eucharist, within the context of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The greatest single gesture that we can do on the face of the earth is to receive Jesus, the Son of Mary, in Holy Communion. Therefore, a superb way in which we can console the Heart of Mary is to pray to receive Jesus in Holy Communion through Mary’s most pure and Immaculate Heart. Nobody ever received Jesus with greater love than the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

7. JESUS TAKEN FROM MARY AND BURIED IN THE TOMB. In this last of the seven sorrows, we witness the separation of Jesus and Mary when Jesus is placed in the tomb and buried. Without a doubt, one of the best ways we can console and rejoice the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary is to beg Mary for the grace to die daily to sin—the greatest evil that exists! Then, of greatest importance, beg Mary for the grace of a holy and happy death. By constantly praying to Mary the Hail Mary and the Holy Rosary, with Mary’s help we are preparing ourselves for the most important moment in our life: the very moment that we die! This will determine our eternal destiny—eternal salvation or eternal loss. We trust that through Mary’s prayers, we will gain our eternal salvation. May this be our prayer every night, and the moment we die:

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

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

Feast of Saint Stephen, first martyr

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

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26th Mt. 10: 17-22   “Do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”

• In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells His disciples that they will be led before governors and kings for His sake as a witness before them and the pagans. Then He tells them not to worry about what they are to say because they well be given what they are to say at that moment!
• Today we will meditate on three important Saints in this week following Christmas, the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Let us come to know these saints, love them, and imitate them in giving witness to Jesus Christ in whatever way He asks of us!

CHRISTMAS WEEK SAINTS—KNOW THEM AND LOVE THEM! By Father Ed Broom, OMV

In the Octave of Christmas, in which we celebrate with great joy the birthday of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Church celebrates three important days of saints that we should get to know, love, and imitate in their sublime virtues. Remember the Universal Call to Holiness where Jesus states clearly and unequivocally: “Be holy as your heavenly Father is holy.” (1 Pt 1:16) This is not a conditional statement but rather an imperative, a command, a moral imperative for all of us to pursue a life of holiness. Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta expressed it in these words: “Holiness is not the privilege of the few, but the duty of all.”

Who then are these Christmas saints who challenge us to exit from a life of tepidity, mediocrity, and a half-hearted following of Jesus; who are the models for all saints? This essay will present for your admiration, imitation, and conversion three: Saint Stephen, Saint John the Evangelist, and finally a group of saints that the Church calls The Holy Innocents! We would like to offer you a brief summary of these bright stars who now shine brilliantly in the firmament of heaven—their eternal home and hopefully ours too!

SAINT STEPHEN. His name means Crown. Ironically, his life ended in a way in which he was crowned but not with a royal crown of gold, silver, or diamonds. His life was quickly brought to an end when Saint Stephen was crowned with stones that crushed his skull, and his soul took flight to heaven.

WHERE TO BE FOUND? We invite you to open up your Bible to the New Testament, to the book written by Saint Luke—the Acts of the Apostles. Turn to Chapter 6 and especially Chapter 7. Read, meditate, and pray over these two chapters and you will be in awe over the admirable person, strength, wisdom, knowledge, courage, and eloquence of Saint Stephen, known as the Protomartyr—meaning, the first Christian martyr after the death of Jesus.

EXAMPLE OF SAINT STEPHEN. Saint Stephen serves as a brilliant, practical, and wonderful model for us in our life’s circumstances here and now. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that the saints serve as powerful intercessors before the throne of God and also serve as brilliant models for all of us to imitate. They are luminous stars that shine in the firmament of heaven. We are called to lift our gaze to heaven where God abides, but also where His best friends, the saints abide! We would venture to present five virtues in the life of Stephen; may we crown our own lives with these spectacular virtues!

1) He was chosen to be ONE OF THE FIRST DEACONS in the Christian Church. The word Deacon means servant. Therefore, Saint Stephen put into practice the words of Jesus: “The Son of man has not come to be served, but to serve and give His life in ransom for many.” (Mt. 20:28) May good Saint Stephen motivate us to give our life as a holocaust of service to God and our brothers and sisters in need.

2) FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. The Bible presents Saint Stephen as being filled with the Holy Spirit. Indeed, our sanctity depends essentially on a deep and constant union with the Holy Spirit. Pope Saint John XXIII stated: The saints are the masterpieces of the Holy Spirit.

3) MASTER OF THE WORD OF GOD. Even though Saint Stephen was neither priest nor Bishop, he had a deep knowledge of the Word of God. He opens up his mouth and gives one of the most eloquent Biblical summaries of salvation history—found in Acts Chapter 7. Most obviously this means that Saint Stephen meditated on the Word of God. He lived the words of Psalm 1: “The law of the Lord is their joy; God’s law they study day and night. They are like a tree planted near streams of water that yields its fruit in due season. Its leaves never wither; whatever they do prospers.” (Psalm 1:2-3) May the life and person of Saint Stephen motivate us to meditate on the Word of God day and night; may the Word of God be a light and lantern for our steps.

4) COURAGE—FORTITUDE TO THE MAX! Saint Stephen had the courage to denounce forcefully the lies and hypocrisy of many of the religious leaders of his day. He would not remain silent when confronted with evil. His courage was sealed with the shedding of his young and innocent blood by stoning. Through the prayers and life of Saint Stephen may we be filled with zeal for the Truth, be ready and willing to defend the Truth, and if God wills, even to die for the Truth.

5) MERCY AND FORGIVENESS. As the stones descended upon Saint Stephen, crushing his skull, this great man of God forgave his persecutors in imitation of Jesus the Master. His last words were: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit… Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” (Acts 7:59-60) May Saint Stephen’s prayers encourage us to be merciful, to be willing to pray for and forgive our enemies!

2. SAINT JOHN THE EVANGELIST.  Now we turn and lift our gaze to the shining firmament of heaven to view and admire one of the most brilliant stars glittering in the heavenly sphere. This is Saint John the Evangelist. His Feast day follows directly that of the great Saint Stephen—December 27.

WHERE TO BE FOUND?  Saint John the Evangelist can be found in the four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, as well as to a limited degree in the Acts of the Apostles. Therefore, the best means by which we can get to know, love, admire, and pray to Saint John the Evangelist is through reading and meditating on the four Gospels, especially the Gospel of John! Bible commentaries are many, but it is best to go to the ultimate source—the Bible, the Gospels, the authentic Word of God!

MODEL OF HOLINESS.  As with Saint Stephen, we would like to present five of the most salient virtues of the great Apostle, Saint John the Evangelist. Hopefully, Saint John will become one of your dearest friends and help you on your journey and pilgrimage to heaven!

1) YES TO THE CALL. Jesus called John to follow Him, and John said YES to His call. First John spent an afternoon with Jesus (Jn 1:35-39); then after the miraculous catch of fish, Jesus said: “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” (Mt. 4:19) John left all to follow Jesus! Right now Jesus is calling you! What will be your response?

2) LOVE FOR JESUS: HIS SACRED HEART. At the Last Supper Saint John leaned on, rested on, and heard the beating of the most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Therefore, Saint John will lead you into the depths of the most Sacred Heart of Jesus, the ultimate source of love and holiness.

3) FRIENDSHIP WITH JESUS. At the Last Supper Jesus said to the Apostles: “I do not call you servants, but friends.” (Jn. 15:15) The twelve Apostles were the 12 closest friends of Jesus; however, there was an inner circle of intimate friends, just three: Peter, James, and John. Then there were the two best friends: Peter and John. And of the two, the best friend of Jesus was the Beloved disciple—Saint John the Evangelist! Beg fervently to be this Best Friend of Jesus so that you will understand, accept, cultivate, and cherish a deeper and deeper friendship with Jesus. Indeed, He is the Friend who will never fail you!

4) FAITHFUL TILL THE END. On Calvary, at the foot of the cross, were to be found the three faithful friends, disciples, and lovers of the crucified Lord Jesus: The Blessed Virgin Mary (Mother of Sorrows), the penitent lover of Jesus—Saint Mary Magdalene, and the Beloved and faithful disciple and Apostle, Saint John the Evangelist. These great friends of Jesus will help us to be faithful followers of Jesus—not just fair weather friends!

5) SPIRITUAL SON OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. Finally, and of paramount importance, is the deep relationship Saint John had with the Blessed Virgin Mary. As Jesus hung in agony on the cross shedding every drop of His Precious Blood, He uttered these words to His Mother Mary and to John the Evangelist: “Woman behold thy son; son behold thy Mother. Then the Beloved disciple took her into his home”. (Jn. 19:26-27) Saint John became the spiritual son of Mary, and from this moment all of us were seen in John to be the sons and daughters of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Indeed, Our Lady is the Mother of God, the Mother of the Church, and the Mother of each and every one of us, in the person of Saint John!

3. THE HOLY INNOCENTS. Finally, we arrive at a group of saints that the Church has termed as The Holy Innocents. This group of little children can be found in the Gospel of Saint Matthew 2:13-19! 

CONTEXT OF THESE SAINTS: THE HOLY INNOCENTS.  Fearful, insecure, nervous, anxious, jealous, and bitter, the wicked King Herod decided with a determined determination to eliminate anybody or any group of individuals who might jeopardize his comfortable and luxurious Kingship. When the Magi departed, Herod sent his soldiers to massacre every male child two years and younger in Bethlehem and all around that region so as to secure his sovereignty and dominion.

THE MASSACRE. This resulted in the massacre of many little baby boys two years and younger. Saint Joseph, warned in a dream by an angel, rose in the middle of the night and with Mary and the Infant Jesus fled to Egypt until the death of the wicked King Herod.

LESSONS FROM THE DEATH OF THE HOLY INNOCENTS. Various lessons can be gleaned from the death of these Holy Innocents.

1) We are all called to live a LIFE OF INNOCENCE—to avoid sin, flee from sin, to perceive sin as our mortal enemy number one.

2) INNOCENCE RESTORED. The Sacrament of Baptism communicates innocence to our soul, but it is lost through personal sin. Innocence can be restored by sincere repentance and a Sacramental Confession.

3) MURDER OF THE INNOCENT BABIES. The gravest moral tragedy over the past several decades is that of abortion. Indeed, this is the murder of innocent babies who have no means by which to defend themselves. It is incumbent upon us all, as a group as well as individually, to pray, fast, and protest against the slaughter of the Holy Innocents today—that is to say, the babies whose lives are in danger of being massacred through the abominable crime and sin of abortion!

4) VOTING RECORDS AND THE HOLY INNOCENTS. It is our moral and civil duty to vote when the occasion presents itself! We should always take into account as our basic criteria for voting what is termed the non-negotiables! When we say non-negotiable we mean that these are always intrinsically evil and in no time, culture, or circumstance can these be accepted—personally, communally, governmentally, and universally! This is to say our choice of candidates must be motivated first and foremost by these non-negotiables which are: Abortion—the killing of the Holy Innocents; Contraception—the wrong way to avoid having children; Euthanasia, the killing of the elderly and infirm (assisted-suicide); Embryonic experimentation (very much akin to abortion); and finally, the acceptance and promotion of homosexuality—which militates against the primary and basic foundation of society, the family. May our future voting be motivated by being the voice of the Holy Innocents who have no voice of their own!

5) OUR OWN DEATH IN GRACE—INNOCENCE! Saint Alphonsus Liguori states that the grace of all graces is the grace to die in the state of grace! May our meditation on and prayer to the Holy Innocents this Christmas Season be a strong motivation for us to appreciate the grace that communicates innocence from sin, to live in grace, and to die innocent of mortal sin. If done, heaven will be our eternal reward and we will be called to praise the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit with Saint Stephen, Saint John the Evangelist, the Holy Innocents, and all of the angels and saints for ever and ever. Amen!

 

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

The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) – Mass During the Day

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

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25th Lk. 2: 15-20   “They went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger.”

Part 1: Christmas Graces… by Pope Francis
Part 2: JESUS, YOU ARE THE CENTER OF MY LIFE! By Father Ed Broom, OMV

PART ONE: Christmas Graces… by Pope Francis

A great light shines forth (Is 9:1); the light of Jesus’ birth shines all about us. Our heart was already joyful in awaiting this moment; now that joy abounds and overflows, for the promise has been at last fulfilled.

Today, the Son of God is born, and everything changes. The Savior of the world comes to partake of our human nature; no longer are we alone and forsaken. The Virgin offers us her Son as the beginning of a new life. The true light has come to illumine our lives so often beset by the darkness of sin. Today we once more discover who we are! Tonight we have been shown the way to reach the journey’s end. Now must we put away all fear and dread, for the light shows us the path to Bethlehem. We must not be laggards; we are not permitted to stand idle. We must set out to see our Savior lying in a manger. This is the reason for our joy and gladness: this Child has been born to us; He was given to us, as Isaiah proclaims (cf. 9:5). If we take Him in our arms and let ourselves be embraced by Him, He will bring us unending peace of heart.

From now on, the way of authentic liberation and perennial redemption is open to every man and woman who is simple of heart. In a society so often intoxicated by consumerism and hedonism, wealth and extravagance, appearances and narcissism, this Child calls us to act soberly, in other words, in a way that is simple, balanced, consistent, capable of seeing and doing what is essential… to discern and to do God’s will. Amid a culture of indifference which not infrequently turns ruthless, our style of life should instead be devout, filled with empathy, compassion, and mercy, drawn daily from the wellspring of prayer.

Like the shepherds of Bethlehem, may we too, with eyes full of amazement and wonder, gaze upon the Child Jesus, the Son of God. And in His presence may our hearts burst forth in prayer: “Show us, Lord, your mercy, and grant us your salvation” (Ps. 85:8).

PART 2: JESUS, YOU ARE THE CENTER OF MY LIFE! By Father Ed Broom, OMV

Jesus Christ is the center of all human history, the alpha and the omega, the principle and foundation, the beginning and the end, the key that unlocks eternal life to all who believe and place their trust in Him. By His Incarnation, life, death, and Resurrection, Jesus has divided history into two blocks of time: B.C. and A.D. Never has any other person come onto the stage of human history and had such a huge impact, and He did this all in no more than 33 years.

The following exposition in its essence is a prayer to Jesus. The short prayer expressions or prayer gems are taken from Sacred Scripture, most of them from the texts of the Gospels. If you like, these are Christological titles transformed into short prayers. It is our intention and desire that you will very slowly pray over these titles in imitation of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, who pondered the Word of God in her Immaculate Heart. A second fruitful use of these Christological Titles is to take one Title and Bible Passage daily as the meditation for your holy hour, thereby praying and drawing fruit from these titles for several days!

CHRISTOLOGICAL TITLES TRANSFORMED INTO PRAYER…

Titles for Jesus are many and rich indeed! Let us learn to pray, to really talk to Jesus through the many and various titles inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Jesus, you are the Bread of Life, give me a growing hunger and insatiable thirst for you. (Jn. 6:25-71)

Jesus, you are The Good Shepherd, grant me the deep inner security that I am never really alone because you are walking next to me, by my side, and you are guiding me by your rod and your staff. (Psalm 23/Jn. 10:1-18)

Jesus, you are truly The Resurrection and The Life, attain for me an ardent yearning to live with you for all eternity in heaven. (Jn. 11:1-44)

Jesus, your name means Savior, I beg you to stretch out your gentle but strong hand to save me. Lord Jesus, save me from doubt, from my inner fears and anxieties, from my lack of trust in your Divine Providence. Lord Jesus, in the midst of the storms of life, when it seems as if my life is on the verge of capsizing and sinking, descend upon me with your calm and peace. Lead me to a safe haven. (Lk. 1:26-38; Mt. 14:22-33)

Jesus you are truly The Divine Physician, The Divine Doctor, I implore you to touch me with your hand and heal me. (Mt. Chapters 8 and 9) Lord Jesus, I admit my infirmities. Heal my mind with your light. Heal my soul with your grace. Heal my memory with your peace. Heal my body with your strength.

Jesus, you are the best of all Teachers. As I sit before you, I beg for your light to truly become my Teacher. (Jn. 3:2; Jn. 7:14; Jn. 20:16; Mt. 4:23; Mt. 7:29; Lk. 4:15; Mk. 6:34) I thank you for the Gospels (Good News) in which I can sit at your feet and absorb and drink in the Words of your Truth. (The Four Gospels)

Jesus, you are The Way, the Truth, and the Life. Pave the way for me on the highway to heaven. Inundate me with the rays of your truth. Finally, attain for me eternal life in heaven. (Jn. 14:6)

Jesus, you are The Alpha and Omega, the Principle and Foundation of my life. Attain for me fullness of life by having you at the very center of my life—my thoughts, words, decisions, and actions. (Rev. 22:13)

Jesus, you said: I am the Light of the world, cast out the dark regions present in my mind, memory, understanding, intentions, and my life. Shine on me and in me, so that your Presence in my life may enlighten many others. (Jn. 8:12)

Jesus, you are truly the Logos—the Word of God issuing forth from the Eternal Father. May your Words be engraved deeply in my whole being so that I will be a living expression of your truth in the world. (Jn. 1:1)

Jesus, you are Emmanuel—God with us! Jesus, in this journey of life heading toward our eternal destiny—heaven, may I constantly be aware of your gentle and consoling presence. May my prayer be that of the disciples on the road to Emmaus: “Stay with us, for the day is far spent.” (Lk. 24:29)

Jesus, you are the Christ-Messiah, the Anointed One. Through Baptism and Confirmation, I have received a double-anointing. I implore you to anoint my thoughts and words so that I will be an anointed presence for my brothers and sisters. (I Jn. 5:1)

Jesus, you indeed are “The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” By your Precious Blood that I receive through the Sacraments of Confession and Communion, may I be cleansed and purified of all my past and present sins and live in the liberty of the sons and daughters of God. (Jn. 1:29)

Jesus, you are the Healing Hand that saves. Stretch out your hand to touch my festering wounds and heal me, as well as all of suffering humanity. (Mt. 8:1-4)

Jesus, you are indeed the Wounded-Healer. Indeed, it is by your wounds that we are healed. May I seek refuge in your wounds, especially your wounded Sacred Heart! Indeed, this is my true and eternal refuge. (Is. 53:5)

Jesus, you are the Friend who is always faithful. May I always experience you as a true Friend, willing to walk with me, talk with me, welcome me, and be present to me. You indeed are the true Friend who will never fail me. (Jn. 15:15)

Jesus, you are the Son of God made man. I am eternally grateful to you for becoming like us in all things except sin. I praise and thank you for assuming your humanity from the Blessed Virgin Mary. (Lk. 1:35)

Jesus, you are The Lord of Lords and The King of Kings. As such I adore you and pay you homage as King. Jesus, as King I beg you to reign over my whole being: reign over my mind, my thoughts, my imagination, my feelings, my intentions, my desires, my will, my body and soul in time and for all eternity. (Rev. 19:16)

Jesus, you indeed are the Crucified Savior. May my love and devotion to you result in crucifying and putting to death all in me that is unworthy of you—that is to say, sin and all of its negative effects. We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. (Mt. 27:32-56)

Jesus, your Most Sacred Heart is a burning furnace of charity. Set my heart on fire with love for you and with love for souls. You said: “I have come to cast fire on the earth and I am not at peace until that fire be enkindled.” Lord Jesus, give me that fire! (Lk. 12:49)

Jesus, you are the Son of God, the Son of man, and the Son of Mary! Through the intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, your loving Mother, may I arrive at a deeper knowledge of you, a deeper love for you, a deeper understanding of you, and a more earnest yearning and longing to follow you all the days of my life! Jesus, Son of the Blessed Virgin Mary, may you be the very center of my life, now and for all eternity. Amen. (Mk. 6:3)

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

Thursday in the Fourth Week of Advent

ADDITIONAL BONUS DAY 6

PART ONE: LISTEN TO RETREAT TALK ON FACEBOOK FORUM WITH FR. LARRY AND FR. ED

PART TWO: MEDITATE ON THREE (3) GOSPELS ON THE BIRTH OF CHRIST BY FR. LARRY DARNELL, OMV

PART THREE: POINTS OF MEDITATION ON GOSPEL AND INSPIRING WORDS OF MARY MOST HOLY By Father Ed Broom, OMV

Three (3) Gospels on the Birth of Christ

l. A Reading from the Holy Gospel of St. Luke 2:1-4

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus
that the whole world should be enrolled.
This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town.
And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth
to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem,
because he was of the house and family of David,
to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
While they were there, the time came for her to have her child,
and she gave birth to her firstborn son.
She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger,
because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields
and keeping the night watch over their flock.
The angel of the Lord appeared to them
and the glory of the Lord shone around them,
and they were struck with great fear.
The angel said to them,
“Do not be afraid;
for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy
that will be for all the people.
For today in the city of David
a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord.
And this will be a sign for you:
you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes
and lying in a manger.”
And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host
with the angel, praising God and saying:
“Glory to God in the highest
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

ll. Reading from the Holy Gospel of St. Luke 2:15-20

When the angels went away from them to heaven,
the shepherds said to one another, 
“Let us go, then, to Bethlehem
to see this thing that has taken place, 
which the Lord has made known to us.”
So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, 
and the infant lying in the manger.
When they saw this,
they made known the message
that had been told them about this child.
All who heard it were amazed
by what had been told them by the shepherds.
And Mary kept all these things,
reflecting on them in her heart.
Then the shepherds returned,
glorifying and praising God 
for all they had heard and seen, 
just as it had been told to them.

lll. A Reading from the Holy Gospel of St. John 1:1-5, 9-14

 In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things came to be through him,
and without him nothing came to be.
What came to be through him was life,
and this life was the light of the human race;
the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it.
The true light, which enlightens everyone,  
was coming into the world.
He was in the world,
and the world came to be through him,
but the world did not know him.
He came to what was his own,
but his own people did not accept him.

But to those who did accept him
he gave power to become children of God,
to those who believe in his name,
who were born not by natural generation
nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God.
And the Word became flesh
and made his dwelling among us,
and we saw his glory,
the glory as of the Father’s only Son,
full of grace and truth.

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

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24th Lk. 1: 67-79   “In the tender compassion of our God, the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Part 1: Christmas Eve… Reflection by Fr. Antonin Sertillanges, O.P.
Part 2: INSPIRING WORDS OF MARY MOST HOLY by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

PART ONE: Christmas Eve… Reflection by Fr. Antonin Sertillanges, O.P. (+1948)

So there are Mary and Joseph without a lodging, wandering through the streets of Bethlehem, urged on by the fall of night and by the time – which is drawing near. It is not difficult to imagine Joseph’s anxiety; who can describe his earnestness and his distress? It was so unexpected, this reception, and so cruel…

As for Mary, the touching preparations mothers make for the birth of their babies should give us some idea of how it must have hurt her. Yet not even the shadow of anxiety could skim the surface of her soul. 

She bore within her the Ordainer of all things, Him who knows all, who can do all. To be worried in His regard would have been childish. As for herself, what did it matter to her? Did she not possess all things, having such a treasure?

When she considered the lot that had been given her, could she envy mothers who were wealthy or comfortable? To suffer, with Jesus under her heart, was a twofold joy to her: it meant sharing the role of the Savior before He entered upon it Himself; it meant carrying the Cross, while carrying Him who would be stretched upon it…

So she went through the winding lanes of Bethlehem without fear, without anxiety. She was waiting upon the will of God; and God poured into her soul, drop by drop, His tranquility, greater far than that of the night rising from the plain and slowly enveloping the lovely slope of the hill.

Meanwhile the ineffable exchange went on: Mary giving to Jesus her blood, her life, the pulsations of her heart; Jesus giving to Mary light, strength, love, patience, and the peace of one possessing God.

• “…the peace of one possessing God.” This is the peace we are all called to possess. Let us strive to imitate Mary! What if we pray after every Holy Communion: “I bear within me the Ordainer of all things, Him who knows all, who can do all. To worry about anything would be childish. I possess all things possessing such a treasure. Considering whom I have within me, how can I envy others? To suffer with Jesus within me is a twofold joy: sharing the role of my Savior, carrying the Cross with Him who was stretched upon it for me.” As we pray, so shall we believe.
  

PART TWO: INSPIRING WORDS OF MARY MOST HOLY by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

“Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.” (Lk. 6:45). These words were uttered by Jesus who is the Incarnate Word, the Logos, and the greatest of all the Teachers the world has ever known! The essential message in the interpretation of this short sentence is the following: we can get to know who a person is by the words that issue from their mouth, because those words really issue forth from the center of their being—from their very heart. Ugly, profane, indecent, uncouth words all flow from a person’s bad heart. On the contrary, noble, profound, pure, enlightening, and holy words emanate from a person whose heart is pure, whose heart is holy.

THE WORDS OF MARY: WORDS OF HOLINESS, WISDOM, AND INSPIRATION. 

The four Gospels mostly recount the words, actions, and gestures of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It should be an ardent pursuit of our lifetime to come to know, love, and put into practice the words of Jesus in the Gospels, which flow from the life of Jesus who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life! Jesus, the Eternal Word, is the way to the Father and the way to eternal life. Also of great importance are the words that we have of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Sacred Scripture.

THE SEVEN WORDS/SAYINGS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY.  The words (or sayings) that we have of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Gospels are not many, actually no more than seven. Indeed, one of the words we do not know exactly what it was but we can conjecture. Nonetheless, the few words that we have of Mary most holy are words of great depth, holiness, and wisdom—words that we should get to know, love, memorize, and incorporate into our daily lives.

FIRST WORD OF MARY: “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” (Lk. 1:34) The context of this first Word of Mary is the first Joyful Mystery of the Annunciation. Mary is approached by the Archangel Gabriel who announces to her the Good News that she is to be the Mother of God. Having made of a vow of virginity, Mary asks a clarifying question: “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” God’s messenger states that the conception will be the work of the Holy Spirit, meaning Mary will remain a virgin. He also reveals that her elderly kinswoman, Elizabeth, is already in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible for God. A clear message for us today is the following: we should be faithful to our promises and try to live a life of great innocence and purity. This can be done through the example and prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary!

SECOND WORD OF MARY: “Behold, I am the Handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your Word.” (Lk. 1:38) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us! This second Word of Mary, known in Latin as her FIAT, resulted in the Incarnation of the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity in the most pure womb of the Virgin Mary. We can derive many profound messages from Mary’s Fiat or Yes. First, Mary teaches us that true joy can only come from imitating her in saying YES to God in all times, places, and circumstances. Second, we owe eternal gratitude to Mary because as a result of her YES, Jesus came into the world as our Savior. In other words, we can be saved and go to heaven because of the YES of Mary in accepting Jesus into her womb, into her life, and into the life of the world, so as to save us from eternal sorrow, sadness, and separation from God. We owe enormous GRATITUDE to Mary for her YES!!!

THIRD WORD OF MARY: MARY’S GREETING TO ELIZABETH.  This third Word of Mary can be found in the context of the Visitation of Mary to her cousin, Saint Elizabeth. The Biblical text simply states that Mary greeted Elizabeth. (Lk. 1:40) We can surmise that the greeting consisted of the typical form of greeting of the Jewish people 2000 years ago and that would be SHALOM—meaning: Peace be with you! How does this word of Mary touch us? Hopefully in many positive ways. First, we should be kind enough to always greet other people, especially family members and friends, but even those whom we do not particularly like. Second, we should desire and pray to live in peace with God, in peace within our own hearts, and in peace with others. Third, we should desire that others experience the fruit of the Holy Spirit which is Peace. One of the beautiful titles of Mary is QUEEN OF PEACE!!!

FOURTH WORD OF MARY: THE MAGNIFICAT OF MARY.  These words are a most sublime, profound, and inspiring hymn of praise that burst forth from the Immaculate Heart of Mary during her conversation with Saint Elizabeth. Mary’s words are prayed by the Church every evening in Vespers or Evening prayer:

 THE MAGNIFICAT… The Prayer of Mary (Lk. 1:46-55)

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, 
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. 
From this day all generations will call me blessed: 
the Almighty has done great things for me, 
and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation. 
He has shown the strength of his arm, 
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, 
and has lifted up the lowly. 
He has filled the hungry with good things, 
and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he remembered his promise of mercy, 
the promise he made to our fathers, 
to Abraham and his children forever.

Mary teaches us immense lessons of wisdom in her MAGNIFICAT.  First, Mary teaches us the great importance of prayer. Second, the importance of fearing and adoring God in His greatness. Third, Mary teaches us humility and reliance on God as our strength and our sustenance. Finally, Mary most Holy, in this prayer, can teach us how to worship Jesus after Holy Communion in Mass. Saint Louis de Montfort in True Devotion to Mary suggests that we pray Mary’s Magnificat in thanksgiving after receiving Jesus into our hearts in Holy Communion! May Mary’s praise become our praise!

FIFTH WORD OF MARY: JESUS FOUND IN THE TEMPLE.  The fifth Word of Mary can be found in the context of the fifth Joyful Mystery, the Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple after three days of sorrowful search, anxiety, and anguish. Mary says to the 12-year-old Child Jesus: “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you in great anxiety.” (Lk. 2:48) Once again, there is a treasure-house of wisdom contained in this short sentence, in these few words of the Blessed Virgin Mary. First, Mary teaches us to be constantly in search of Jesus. Second, Mary wants us to discover Jesus in the depths of our heart. Third, Mary teaches us that if we have lost Jesus in the depths of our heart due to serious sin, we should bring Him back through sincere sorrow and the Sacrament of Confession. Lastly, we should discover who Jesus is by mediating often on the Word of God.

SIXTH WORD OF MARY: WEDDING FEAST OF CANA.  The sixth word of Mary can be found in the context of the second Luminous Mystery—The Wedding Feast of Cana. (Jn. 2:1-12) Mary notices a serious and embarrassing problem for the newly married couple: the wine has run out! Mary says to Jesus: “They have no wine.” (Jn. 2:3) Even though no more than four words, there is much depth and matter to meditate upon in these words of Mary at the Wedding Feast of Cana. First, Mary’s eyes and Immaculate Heart are always open and attentive to our problems and our needs. Second, Mary teaches us to turn and lift up our eyes to Jesus. Third, Mary cares for all, but especially those with problems. Fourth, Mary wants to bless Marriage and the family which today especially are going through many crises and problems.

SEVENTH WORD OF MARY: WEDDING FEAST OF CANA.  Aware of the shortage of wine and of the presence and power of Jesus the Lord, Mary says these few words as she turns to the servers: “Do whatever he tells you.” (Jn. 2:5) Once again, these words of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which are the last recorded in the Gospels, are jam-packed with infinite wisdom for all those who have a mind and heart open to God. First message, Mary trustingly turns to Jesus; she wants us always to turn to Jesus with trust. Second, Mary is keenly aware of the problems that we have in our lives. Third, Mary ardently desires to help us with our problems. Fourth, Mary can help our water be transformed into wine—that is to say, through Mary’s intercession our problems can be resolved. Fifth, Mary is the Mediatrix of all graces—meaning all the graces that come to us indeed come from God, but through the intercession of Mary! Sixth and last, these last words of Mary might be considered the best advice in the world—do whatever Jesus wants and asks of us always!!! In this is our peace.

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