Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Advent

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 POTENTIAL POWER IN PRIESTLY PATERNITY 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. A 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)

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23rd Lk. 1: 57-66   “He asked for a tablet and wrote: ‘John is his name’ and all were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God.”

Part 1: His name is John… from the writings of Saint Pope John Paul II
Part 2: POTENTIAL POWER IN PRIESTLY PATERNITY by Father Ed Broom, OMV

PART 1: From the writings of Saint Pope John Paul II…

His name is John. Before his astonished kinsmen, Zechariah confirms that this is the name of his son, writing it on a tablet. God himself, through his angel, had given that name, which in Hebrew means “God is benevolent.” God is benevolent to human beings: he wants them to live; he wants them to be saved. God is benevolent to his people: he wants to make of them a blessing for all the nations of the earth. God is benevolent to humanity: he guides its pilgrim way towards the land where peace and justice reign. All this is contained in that name: John! 

• John the Baptist was the Precursor of the Lord, Jesus Christ, the High Priest.   
• Saint Paul gives us these encouraging words: “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Heb. 4: 14-16)
• When Jesus ascended into heaven, His very last words were: “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Where? In His Mystical Body the Church, in His priesthood, in the Most Holy Eucharist! As we rejoice in Christ’s Birth, let us also rejoice in the Priesthood, which perpetuates His Real Presence among us in the Holy Eucharist, and His Mercy and Grace in the Sacrament of Mercy, Confession! Let us give thanks and pray for our priests, and all priests, today and everyday!
  

PART 2:  POTENTIAL POWER IN PRIESTLY PATERNITY By Father Ed Broom, OMV

“Man of God”,  “Man for others”,  “Alter-Christus”,“Jesus Christ on earth”, “The Victim who offers the VICTIM” (Ven. Archbishop Fulton Sheen), “Ambassador of Christ” (Saint Paul), these are just some of the definitions for the person of the priest. In these tempestuous, revolutionary, tumultuous, and critical times, it is indispensable that we do all that we can to bolster the Church by supporting priests to the very maximum of our capacity. True, priests have failed and scandalized men; still, there are many hard-working, humble, prayerful, zealous, fervent, and holy priests. We should do all that we can to support priests in their pursuit of holiness and in their daily pursuit of attaining perfection in charity—a more noble love for God manifested in zeal and love for the salvation of the sheep entrusted to their care.

What then are the means or tools that priests must take in their hands to live out their priesthood, their spiritual paternity, to the greatest potential they have at their disposition? We would like to offer these suggestions, advice, and counsel for priests, seminarians, Deacons, as well as the future priests that God already has in His Heart from all eternity. You might call these the BIG FIFTEEN that a priest should strive to understand and to live out so that he can respond to the most noble calling or vocation that has been assigned to him by Jesus, the Model for all priests!

THE BIG FIFTEEN FOR LIVING OUT HOLINESS AS THE PRIEST—THE MAN OF GOD AND THE MAN FOR OTHERS

1. FRIENDSHIP WITH JESUS: THEIR BEST OF ALL FRIENDS. At the Last Supper where Jesus instituted both the most Holy Eucharist as well as Holy Orders, the Priesthood, in the long and most inspiring Last Supper Discourse (Jn. 13-17), Jesus called the Apostles FRIENDS, YES, FRIENDS!!! Today more than ever, a priest must be firmly convinced that Jesus has called him to friendship with Him. Moreover, this Friendship with Jesus must be dynamic—that is to say, it must be constantly growing, on the upswing, ascending on high. There is a basic principle in spirituality: there is no static state; either there is growth or stagnation. Therefore, a priest must strive on a daily basis to do all that is within his power to grow in Friendship with Jesus.

2. MERCY. Some lay people, being simple and possibly naïve, believe that the priest confesses others in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, but the priest himself does not need to go to confession. Nothing could be further from the truth! The Letter to the Hebrews expresses this with great concision and truth: “Every high priest is taken from among men and made their representative before God to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal patiently with the ignorant and erring, for he himself is beset with weakness and so for this reason, must make sin offerings for himself as well as for the people.” (Heb. 5: 1-3) Being part of sinful humanity due to Original Sin and personal sin, a priest must make a habit of frequent, fervent, and well-prepared confessions to another priest. By the way, even the Pope has to go to confession to another priest who of course represents Christ. In fact, one of the secrets of a priest being a good Confessor is that he must first of all be a good penitent himself and experience the Infinite Mercy of the Sacred Heart of Jesus! The priest must experience the loving and merciful embrace of God the Father (the Parable of the Prodigal Son) before he can administer God’s love and mercy to his own penitents. Having experienced the Infinite Mercy of Jesus by himself being pardoned and forgiven, the priest can administer the Sacrament of Reconciliation with greater mercy, love, and efficaciousness!

3. FRIENDSHIP THROUGH PRAYER. At the end of his life, after he retired from his Episcopal exercise of being Bishop of Rochester, New York, Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, this great man of God and model for priests and Bishops, decided to dedicate his last years and last days to the mission of greatest importance—that of giving retreats to both priests and Bishops. In these retreats, which can be listened to on-line, this holy man of God made one concrete proposal that he insisted that all priests and Bishops carry out with faithfulness—THE DAILY HOLY HOUR. In his long years of the priesthood and years as a Bishop, Fulton Sheen asserted that he never missed making his daily Holy Hour in over 55 years!

4. PLACE OF HONOR AND PRIVILEGE FOR HIS HOLY HOUR. Fulton Sheen strongly recommended that this Holy Hour, that he called The Hour of Power should be made in front of the most Blessed Sacrament, that is to say, before the Real Presence of Jesus in the Consecrated Host. How true is the maxim: “You become like those with whom you associate!” Indeed, if the priest spends time daily in front of Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar, he will start to imitate and become more and more like Jesus, the High-Priest.

5. CONVERSION OF THE PRIEST. Like all, the priest must labor strenuously at his own personal conversion. As a follow up to the Holy Hour in front of the Blessed Sacrament, Sheen asserted that if a priest is faithful to the daily Holy Hour, Jesus will help him grow in holiness. If a priest is faithful to the Holy Hour, but he is living in sin, Jesus will help him to conquer sin. Moreover, if a priest is mediocre, tepid, lukewarm, then Jesus will set his heart on fire. If a priest is good, then he will go from good to better. Finally, if a priest is fervent, the Eucharistic Presence of Jesus whom he meets as Friend and Model will inspire this priest to arrive at the heights of holiness; in other words, to ardently desire to become a real saint!

6. THE PRIEST AND HOLY MASS. As a follow up or even extension of the commitment that the priest makes to carry out the daily Holy Hour is the primary importance of the priest carrying out the greatest action under the sun—the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass! Not the Prophets of old, not the Archangels, not the Cherubim and Seraphim, not even the Blessed Virgin Mary have the power to celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass! Only the man who has been ordained to the priesthood has the capacity, through Holy Orders, to celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Only the priest can bring Jesus from Heaven to earth. Only the priest can introduce Jesus into the hearts of the faithful as a result of the consecration in Mass and Holy Communion. How sublime is the priest who in the Holy Mass acts like a bridge, like a rainbow, uniting Heaven to earth! Priests should be encouraged to view a brief YouTube of Saint Padre Pio celebrating the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. What faith, love, devotion, and awe were demonstrated by this saintly priest when carrying out his most important mission—the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass!

7. SAINT ALPHONSUS’ ADVICE. It is not always possible to carry out to the letter of the law this advice of the saintly priest, Bishop, prolific writer, and Founder, Saint Alphonsus Maria Liguori with respect to the Mass. His advice is sublime, but challenging! Saint Alphonsus suggests that the priest spend at least half an hour in preparation for Holy Mass and then half an hour in thanksgiving after Holy Mass!!! The contemplative Maronite priest, canonized by Pope Saint Paul VI, Saint Charbel Maklouf asked permission of his local Superior to celebrate Mass at 12 noon. The reason for this specific noonday choice was for this simple reason, related to the suggestion of Saint Alphonsus. Saint Charbel wanted to spend the whole morning in preparation for Holy Mass; then he wanted to spend the whole afternoon and evening in thanksgiving for the Mass that he celebrated. In a word, this holy, saintly, contemplative priest-monk wanted the whole of his life to be centered and focused on Jesus in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. As the sun pours forth rays of light and heat over the earth at midday, so Jesus, the Light of the world desires through the priest celebrating Holy Mass, to pour light into our minds and the fire of love into our souls. May the words and advice of these two canonized saints motivate priests at least to spend some time in preparation for the Holy Mass, and sometime after rendering thanks to Jesus for the greatest of all Gifts—Himself in Holy Mass! It is not an exaggeration to say that all of eternity would not be sufficient to prepare for one Holy Mass, nor all of eternity sufficient to give thanks for one Mass! The word EUCHARIST actually means THANKSGIVING. May the prayers of the Psalmist echo in the depths of our hearts: “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His love endures forever.” (Ps. 136: 1)

8. PERMANENT FORMATION. Doctors, Lawyers, Teachers and Professors, Engineers, Professional Athletes, Architects—all have this in common: the dire and urgent need for an ongoing process of formation. If you like, the indispensable need for PERMANENT FORMATION!!! A baseball player who does not perform drops down to Minor League ball until he improves his act and performance. In a parallel but very real sense, a priest, as well as a Bishop, must make a concerted effort to work on his own PERMANENT FORMATION. The saying rings true universally: WORK IN PROGRESS! All of us are a work in progress; this also applies to the personal growth and development of the priest. Ongoing formation can be carried out through conferences, seminars, Biblical studies, and at times even Sabbatical years to recharge one’s spiritual, intellectual, cultural, and physical batteries!

9. SPIRITUAL DIRECTION. All of us, even though we do not like to admit it, have blind spots in our lives. Others see certain areas for growth, certain defects or even virtues that we have, while we can easily become blind to them. Lay people who are sincerely pursuing a life of perfection in the pursuit of holiness urgently need a well-trained spiritual director. Even more does this apply to the person of the priest! As a priest, blind spots can be many. However, the essence of spiritual direction is not simply to point out or highlight blind spots, but rather to help the priest grow in his spiritual life. To be blunt and to the point, one of the essential hallmarks of good spiritual direction is to help the person who is being directed to grow deeper in their prayer life, to grow deeper in their relationship with Jesus who must be their BEST FRIEND! (We have circled around to the first point or number of this essay!) Saint John of the Cross, Saint Teresa of Avila, Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Saint Frances de Sales, Saint Faustina, Saint Margaret Mary Alaqoque, and many other saints trumpeted the importance of spiritual direction. May all priests of the world have recourse to periodic spiritual direction as a step on the Highway to Holiness and perfection!

10. IN DEFENCE OF THE VIRTUE OF PURITY/CHASTITY.  In the Sermon on the Mount, one of the Beatitudes that Jesus taught highlights the importance of purity: “Blessed are the pure of heart, for they will see God.” (Mt. 5: 8) Due to the immoral climate or milieu of the modern world, all people, but in a special way, the priest who is consecrated to God in mind, spirit, and body must make a concerted effort to guard his mind, his eyes, his heart, his body, and his whole being. Consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary and her purest and Immaculate Heart is without doubt one of the most powerful and efficacious means to attain protection of the virtue of purity and perseverance in such a challenging but important virtue! May all priests be consecrated to the purest Immaculate Heart of Mary!

11. PRAYER AND PENANCE, POWER IN PRIESTLY PERFOMRANCE!  Jesus asserted: “Some devils can be cast out only by prayer and penance.” (Mt. 17: 21) As has been stated, a priest must be a man of prayer. The Daily Holy Hour is a prime example. However, that is not enough. To conquer the devil, the flesh, and the world in his own life, a priest must apply himself to a life of penance, to an ascetical life, to a life of mortification, to a life of self-denial. In the year of the Priesthood in the Pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI, this holy Pontiff took and named as a model for priests, Saint John Marie Vianney, known as the Saint Cure of Ars. It is very difficult to find a more holy, zealous, prayerful, but also penitential priest than this true man of God, this saint!

12. ZEAL FOR SOULS.  Another characteristic note or virtue of the priest. The true man of God should have an ardent zeal and passion for the salvation of Immortal Souls. Saint Thomas Aquinas stated that one soul is worth more than the whole created universe. The motto of the holy and zealous priest, Saint John Bosco, was: “GIVE ME SOULS AND TAKE ALL THE REST AWAY!” It stands to reason that if the priest has a deep and dynamic relationship with Jesus as his Best Friend, then the priest should love what Jesus loves and that is the salvation of Immortal Souls. In fact, the reason for Jesus’s Incarnation, Passion, Death and Resurrection was precisely this: SAVIOR—TO SAVE SOULS FOR ALL ETERNITY!

13. DAILY EXAMEN.  Saint Ignatius of Loyola, in bequeathing to the world so many spiritual gems, so many spiritual practices, left us what is called THE DAILY EXAMEN. There are five steps: 1) Thanksgiving to God for His abundant blessings; 2) Beg for the grace to review the day objectively; 3) See where your heart has been during the course of the day; 4) Humbly admit failures; 5) Renewal/Proposal for the following day as a result of self-knowledge so as to avoid falling into the failures of the past. If a priest can carry out this practice every day for ten minutes, this will be of immense value for him to be aware of the Presence of God, as well as of the enemy. He will be training himself to recognize and reject the temptations of the enemy, and open his heart to the inspirations of the Good Spirit.

14. CULTIVATION OF THE SPIRIT OF JOY IN THE PRIESTLY HEART.  Pope Francis time and time again has insisted upon the prime importance of cultivating joy and living out joy in bringing the Joy of the Gospel to a broken and wounded world. Indeed, if the priest is firmly convinced of His friendship with Jesus, if the priest is deeply rooted in his relationship with Jesus, then necessarily in the depths of his heart he will experience the fruits of the Holy Spirit, most especially a profound peace, as well as an overflowing joy. Saint Paul exhorts us: “Rejoice in the Lord; I say it again, rejoice in the Lord.” (Phil. 4: 4)

15. MARY: THE MOTHER OF GOD, THE MOTHER OF THE CHURCH, AND THE MOTHER OF THE PRIESTS.  Underneath the cross on Good Friday stood the two greatest lovers of Jesus on earth—the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint John the Evangelist, also known as Saint John the Beloved. This Apostle, who leaned on the Sacred Heart of Jesus, was indeed Jesus’ Best Friend. However, Jesus pronounced these words from the cross to Saint John and to all the priests of the world until the end of time: “Woman, behold thy son; son, behold thy Mother. From that moment the beloved disciple took Mary into his home.” (Jn. 19: 26-27) Taking Mary into the home of John means for the priest that he must take Mary into the very depths of his heart. The priest must frequently talk to Mary on all occasions about all that is going on in his life, his heart, his work, his joys and sorrows, his victories and failures, his fears and shadows, his desires, aspirations, and dreams. Like Saint John, the Blessed Mother who leads the priest to Jesus always, must be for the priest his Mother of Mercy, his life, his sweetness, and his hope!

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

Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Advent

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

PART TWO: MEDITATE ON THE SON OF GOD BECAME MAN BY FR. LARRY DARNELL, OMV

PART THREE: POINTS OF MEDITATION ON GOSPEL AND LESSONS FROM THE CHILD JESUS: GOD’S WISDOM! By Father Ed Broom, OMV

Catechism of the Catholic Church

The Son of God Became Man

Paragraph 1 – Why Did The Word Become Flesh?

456 – With the Nicene Creed, we answer by confessing: “For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven; by the power of the Holy Spirit, he became incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and was made man.”

457 – The Word became flesh for us in order to save us by reconciling us with God, who “loved us and sent his Son to be the expiation for our sins”: “the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world”, and “he was revealed to take away sins”: Sick, our nature demanded to be healed; fallen, to be raised up; dead, to rise again. We had lost the possession of the good; it was necessary for it to be given back to us. Closed in the darkness, it was necessary to bring us the light; captives, we awaited a Savior; prisoners, help; slaves, a liberator. Are these things minor or insignificant? Did they not move God to descend to human nature and visit it, since humanity was in so miserable and unhappy a state?

458 – The Word became flesh so that thus we might know God’s love: “In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.” “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

459 – The Word became flesh to be our model of holiness: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me.” “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.” On the mountain of the Transfiguration, the Father commands: “Listen to him!” Jesus is the model for the Beatitudes and the norm of the new law: “Love one another as I have loved you.” This love implies an effective offering of oneself, after his example.

460 – The Word became flesh to make us “partakers of the divine nature”: “For this is why the Word became man, and the Son of God became the Son of man: so that man, by entering into communion with the Word and thus receiving divine sonship, might become a son of God.” “For the Son of God became man so that we might become God.” “The only-begotten Son of God, wanting to make us sharers in his divinity, assumed our nature, so that he, made man, might make men gods.”

Letter of St. Paul to the Philippians 2:1-11

If there is any encouragement in Christ, any solace in love, any participation in the Spirit, any compassion and mercy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing.

Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but [also] everyone for those of others.

Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus, Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.

Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.

Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

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

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22nd Lk. 1: 46-56   Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.”

Part 1: Poverty of Jesus, Son of God made man by St. Peter Julian Eymard
Part 2: LESSONS FROM THE CHILD JESUS: GOD’S WISDOM! By Father Ed Broom, OMV

PART 1:  The Poverty of Jesus, Son of God made man. From the writings of St. Peter Julian Eymard as presented by Fr. John Hardon, S.J.

Of the virtues Our Lord in the Eucharist is now practicing in order to inspire us to follow His example, none is more basic than His poverty. Jesus wanted to be the poorest of the poor, in order to be able to stretch out His hand to the lowliest of men and say to them, “I am your brother.”

Consider…  No man was ever born in more wretched conditions than the Word Incarnate, who had the trough of animals for His cradle, their shelter for His home. As a child, He fed on barley bread, the bread of the poor. In the hidden years He took up the awl and the hammer to earn bread by the sweat of His brow. During His apostolic life He lived on alms. He died in a state of destitution that will never be equaled… stripped of His garments, His honor, His Divinity hidden!

Now that He is risen and glorious, He still takes poverty for His companion… Jesus, dwelling in our midst in His Sacrament, is poorer than during the days of His mortal life! His home is often but a poor church, worse perhaps than the cave of Bethlehem, where His tabernacle may consist of nothing more than four boards, which themselves are worm-eaten! His priests or His faithful people must give Him everything: the matter of the Sacrament, the bread and the wine; the linen on which to place Him or with which to cover Him; the corporals, the altar cloths. He brings nothing from heaven except His adorable Person and His love! Silent, obedient, humbly waiting in the tabernacle for His faithful to come visit Him… for His ministers to take Him out for adoration, to visit the sick, to be viaticum for the dying.

What is Jesus teaching us? He’s teaching us that He is to be imitated twice over: once as the God-man who lived a mortal life in Palestine and once again as the same Incarnate God who is now living His glorified life in the Blessed Sacrament… in poverty, silence, humility, obedience, compassion, merciful forgiveness, love.

Christ is to be followed and His virtues imitated here and now as they are lived by Him in the Holy Eucharist in our midst! The Eucharistic Presence of Jesus is the Mystery of Faith that we are called upon not only to venerate and adore, but to model our lives on in this valley of tears as a condition of reaching our heavenly home.

PART 2:  LESSONS FROM THE CHILD JESUS: GOD’S WISDOM! By Father Ed Broom, OMV

Jesus stated it very clearly: “Unless you become like a child you cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Mt. 18:3) Also, on one occasion when the Apostles were trying to prevent the children from coming to Jesus, the Lord said forcefully: “Let the children come to me; if you do not become like a little child you cannot enter the Kingdom of God.” (Mt. 19:14)

OUR LADY OF FATIMA AND CHILDREN.  One of the most famous modern approved apparitions is that of Our Lady of Fatima. God sent His Mother from heaven to a little town in Portugal, called Fatima, in the year 1917, six times from May 13 through October 13. Who did Our Lady appear to? The brilliant? The scholars? The rich and important? The flashy and ostentatious? To none of these did Our Lady appear. Rather, she appeared to three little children—tenders of sheep, and with no formal education! God’s ways are not our ways—this is certain!

GOD’S PROVIDENTIAL DESIGN.  God could have chosen any one of limitless possibilities as a means to ransom or save humanity after the sin of our first parents, Adam and Eve, the sin that we call Original Sin. God could have come as a powerful King, or a rich millionaire, or a brilliant genius, or a plethora of other flashy, fantastic ways! But no! God’s ways are as different from our ways as heaven is from the earth! In His Providential design, God willed to save the world by what theologians call The Incarnation—meaning? God willed to become one of us, to become a man like us with this exception—He was born without sin, lived a sinless life, and died on the cross to save us from our sins!

AS A CHILD.  Furthermore, God willed to enter the world by the same means by which we entered the world—through a woman. God chose Mary to be the channel by which He would enter humanity. The Ever Virgin Mary conceived Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit and maintained her virginity even in the moment of giving birth to Jesus.

THE CHILD JESUS —THE SON OF GOD.  Jesus was the baby born of Mary. This Virgin Mother took Him in her tender arms, wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and nestled Him close to her most pure and Immaculate Heart. Then Mary placed Jesus on the hay in the manger. The word manger comes from French and means to eat! It was the feeding trough of the animals. Later on, as an adult, Jesus would challenge people to nourish themselves on His Body and Blood if they wanted to live, and live forever. I am the Bread of life. Whoever eats my Body and drinks my Blood will have everlasting life and I will raise Him up on the last day. (Jn. 6: 22-71—Bread of Life discourse).

BETHLEHEM: HOUSE OF BREAD.  There are no coincidences or unexpected circumstances in God’s providential designs. The word Bethlehem actually means House of Bread. No surprise that Jesus, who was born in the city of the House of Bread, would declare Himself the Bread of life and challenge us that our eternal salvation hinges upon our consuming Him in Mass and Holy Communion as the Bread of Life.

IMPORTANT LESSONS FROM THE CHILD JESUS.

There are many lessons to learn from God becoming man, being in the womb of Mary for nine months, and finally being born as a little Baby. Let us dig deep into this goldmine and derive abundant treasures for our meditation, imitation, transformation, sanctification, and perseverance! What then are the lessons of the Infant-Child Jesus?

1. DEPENDENCY. Even though the Baby Jesus was God, the Son of God made man, still He made Himself totally dependent on others, most especially Mary and Saint Joseph. Jesus would live this attitude of dependency on His Heavenly Father during the whole course of His life! In our spiritual lives we must develop and cultivate a child-like dependency on God in all times, places, and circumstances. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus challenges us to trust by contemplating nature—the lilies of the field and the birds of the air. “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.” (Mt. 6: 36-39) In His Public life Jesus had no permanent home, saying: “The foxes have their holes and the birds of the air their nests, but the Son of man has nowhere to rest His head.” (Lk. 9: 58) Again, total trust in the Father!

2. HUMILITY. The littleness of the Infant Jesus is an extraordinary example of humility. God loves the humble but casts down the mighty from their thrones. Mary’s Magnificat: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.” (Lk. 1: 46-55). He chose the Pharisee over the Publican, humility over an overweening pride. (Lk. 18:9-14) When a man, on one occasion Jesus described His own Sacred Heart using these two descriptions: I am meek and humble of heart… (Mt.11:29) Arrogance, conceit, haughtiness, and self-importance are all alien to the person of the child, and most especially the Child-Jesus! May He inspire us to pursue a life of great humility!

3. GOD ALONE! Once again, even though Jesus was, is, and always will be God, the second Person of the Blessed Trinity, He chose to enter the portals of this world not in a palace, castle, or opulent mansion. On the contrary, He entered this world being born in a stable that served as a refuge for animals. A good part of the warmth of that little cave was the presence, the heat, and the breath of the animals there! We must learn that pursuing money, possessions, power and esteem will not fill us with authentic Joy. Pleasure that passes, yes, but true and lasting Joy, no! The Child Jesus born in Bethlehem teaches us to find true happiness not in the created world, but in the Creator of the world—Jesus the Lord. Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen penned it so eloquently: The Creator of the universe had no place to be born in His own creation!

4. INNOCENCE. In a world where innocence is being lost, even among our children due to an uncontrolled use of modern technology, the Infant Jesus teaches us clearly and unequivocally the importance of striving to live lives of innocence—freedom from sin. Still more, the Innocent Child Jesus in the arms of Mother Mary challenges us to strive to protect the innocence of our children threatened by so many modern wolves!

5. CHILDLIKE SIMPLICITY: INSPIRING TRUST. In the overly complicated world that we have created, we should all long for a more simple, humble, frugal, transparent, as well as detached life-style. Models for us would be Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and the children of Fatima—Saint Jacinta Marto, Saint Francisco Marto, and their cousin, Servant of God Lucia de los Santos. By contemplating the Little Baby Jesus resting peacefully in the arms of Mary, His loving Mother, may we learn to strive for Evangelical Poverty and simplicity. Saint Ignatius of Loyola points out that nobody is afraid to approach an innocent little baby—a strong, aggressive warrior, yes!—but not an innocent little Baby.

May the Infant-Baby Jesus resting in the loving and tender arms of His Mother Mary inspire us to greater trust, greater dependency on God, greater humility, greater simplicity, and a life of detachment from things so that we can be totally anchored and rooted in God!

 

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

Monday of the Fourth Week of Advent

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

PART TWO: MEDITATE ON THE INCARNATION OF CHRIST BY FR. LARRY DARNELL, OMV

PART THREE: POINTS OF MEDITATION ON GOSPEL AND TALKING WITH MY FRIENDS JESUS AND MARY BY FR. ED BROOM, OMV

PART TWO…

Mediation on the Incarnation of Christ

Incarnation of Christ

• Jesus Christ, True God and True Man – He is truly Son of God, who without ceasing to be God and Lord became a man and our brother.

1. St. John the Evangelist explains the Incarnation.

Bible Verses:

John 1: 1-5
“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 were made through him, and without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

John 1: 14
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

 John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

2. Explanation of the Incarnation by St. Ignatius of Loyola.

Spiritual Exercises #102:

First Prelude. This will consist in calling to mind the history of the subject I have to contemplate. Here it will be how the Three Divine Persons look down upon the whole expanse or circuit of all the earth, filled with human beings. Since They see that all are going down to hell, They decree in Their eternity that the Second Person should become man to save the human race. So when the fullness of time had come, They send the Angel Gabriel to our Lady.

3. Explanation of the Incarnation in the Gospel of Luke.

Luke 1: 26-31
“In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.”

PART THREE…

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

MONDAY, DECEMBER 21ST Lk. 1: 39-45   “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.”

• Because of Mary’s YES to the Incarnation of Jesus, the Son of God made man, within her most pure womb, we too are BLESSED!
• Through His Passion, death and Resurrection, Jesus opened the gates of heaven to us! The Church was born through the blood and water that flowed from Jesus’ pierced side on the cross, and with it the life giving Sacraments, not the least of which is the holy priesthood to perpetuate His Real Presence among us through the Sacrament of the Most Holy Eucharist. Only an ordained priest can say, “This is my Body; this is my Blood” and Jesus is brought down from heaven to earth in his hands!
• Last, but certainly not least, as He was dying on the cross, Jesus gave us His Mother to be our Mother – our life, our sweetness, and our hope!
• How much Jesus and Mary love each and every one of us! Their greatest desire is that we enter into a deep and abiding friendship with them, now unto eternity!

TALKING WITH MY FRIENDS JESUS AND MARY by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV 

FAITHFUL FRIENDS ALWAYS.  Jesus and Mary are your best friends, always, in all places and in all times. You can talk to them and confide in them always! Jesus and Mary are always ready and willing to listen to you and talk to you as friends do. At the Last Supper, Jesus said to the Apostles (as well as to you and me): “I call you FRIENDS.” His friendship has not changed in over 2000 years and it will never change. Jesus and Mary have a great longing, a great desire, in this precise moment to enter into a conversation of Friendship with you.

ENTER INTO THIS CONVERSATION OF FRIENDSHIP WITH JESUS AND MARY NOW!
A STARTING HELP: PICTURE, PAINTING, OR STATUE OF JESUS AND OF MARY.

Now place yourself in the Presence of Jesus and Mary. Imagine that they are looking at you with great tenderness, kindness, and love. Lift your eyes, as well as your heart, to the images of Jesus and Mary. Now open up your heart and talk to Jesus and Mary. Tell them everything that is on your mind, everything that is in your heart. They are the best of listeners.

SOME HELPS TO ENTER INTO CONVERSATION WITH JESUS AND MARY.  As a means to help you, imagine that Jesus and Mary with great love for you are asking you some very simple questions. Respond to these questions in your own words. Your words can be simple, uncomplicated, humble, and sincere. Here we go with our loving conversation with Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary, His Mother and your Mother!

1. WHO ARE YOU? Why not start with the basics. Jesus asks, “Who are you”? That is a good question. Who are you in the eyes of the world? Are you a man or woman, younger or older, single or married, father or mother, brother or sister? Do you work, go to school, stay at home with the kids, or possibly you’re retired? Now, who are you in your own eyes? What do you think of yourself? Are you happy with who you are? If you could change one thing about yourself, what would that be? Now, who are you in the eyes of Jesus and Mary? Do you think about the fact that Jesus suffered and died on the cross as Mary suffered beneath the cross – all for love of you? Do you really know how precious you are in their eyes? They are listening very attentively to your answers, to your words, even to the movements of your heart. You can speak to Jesus and Mary as long as you want. They are in no hurry. Right now you are the most important person in the world to them.

2. WHAT IS ON YOUR MIND NOW? In all times and places something is crossing our mind. Right now, why not express to Jesus and Mary the thoughts that are crossing or running through your mind. Talk to them about these thoughts. Do these thoughts bring you joy or sadness, peace or anxiety? Talk sincerely about your thought world. Perhaps things that you cannot talk to anyone else about. Jesus and Mary do not mean for you to carry your burdens alone.

3. ARE YOU FEARFUL? We all go through moments of fear and about many things. Perhaps over the past few days there has been something in your life that has caused you to enter into a state of fear. This is an excellent topic of conversation between you and Jesus and Mary. Often the Apostles had fears; all people have fears in their lives. So do you and so do I. Bring these fears to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Jesus calmed the fears of the Apostles in the storm; He can calm your fears too!

4. WHAT MIGHT BE SOME FEARS? Fears can come in many shapes and forms, colors and shades. Never forget that both Jesus and Mary love you always and are always ready to listen to you and help you. Here are a few that might be your fears right now. Your future? Maybe you are fearful about your future. We are living in challenging times. Maybe your future is uncertain and this causes fear. Talk to Jesus and Mary about this. Ask them to help you place your future in their loving and caring hands. Or it could be that you or one of your family members has a serious health problem and that makes you fearful. Ask the Divine Physician for healing in mind and body, always trusting in His Divine Providence to know what is best for each person. Remembering that when He gives a cross, He promises to help us carry it! Maybe your fears are for spiritual well-being – yours or someone else’s. In this case, usually what is needed is a Soul Doctor and a good Confession. If it is for yourself, don’t put it off! The enemy wants to steal your soul – and that is how he does it! He paralyzes us with fear! Ask a friend to go with you, so you won’t back out! If your fear is for someone else who is putting off Confession and Conversion – prayer and penance are your weapons. Jesus says some demons are only driven out by prayer and penance!

5. OTHER FEARS? Family tensions and problems! Your fears might be in your home, in your own family. Maybe there is tension, turmoil, anger and bitterness among some family members and this is a constant cause of fear and anxiety in your mind and heart. Open up your heart to Jesus and Mary and talk to them about these family tensions and fears. Talk to Jesus and Mary about your family members. Most likely there is one family member who is most in need of prayers. Beg Jesus and Mary to help you pray for them and bring peace to your heart! Jesus and Mary are always attentive to your prayers and willing to help you carry the cross.

6. WOUNDS OF THE PAST/WOUNDS IN THE PRESENT. Because of the Original Sin of our first parents, Adam and Eve, we all live in a world that is deeply wounded. And that means that we too are wounded and most likely we have wounded others. Most likely, even now, you carry a wound in your heart. Past or present, being abused in any number of ways leaves huge, gaping wounds. Now is the time to bring these wounds to the Sacred Heart of Jesus that was wounded by the lance that pierced His Heart causing blood and water to gush forth, and the Immaculate Heart of Mary who suffered in her heart all that Jesus suffered in His Body as she stood beneath the cross. Being physically beaten, emotionally abused, rejected, perhaps abandoned—all of these situations leave wounds that can be very deep.

7. JESUS THE WOUNDED HEALER. Jesus is the wounded-healer. In prayer we can bring these many and possibly huge wounds to Jesus. The Bible says: “By His wounds we are healed.” (Is. 53:5) Do not be afraid to open up and talk to Jesus about your wounds because by His wounds we are healed. Call to mind the many sick, suffering, and wounded people who came to Jesus while He walked the earth. Jesus was moved to pity and compassion and He healed them if they trusted in Him. Imagine that you are one of those wounded and sick persons in the time of Jesus: the blind, the deaf, the mute, the leper, the paralytic! Like them, go to Jesus now and ask for healing! Go to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and also ask her to heal you. Mary is known as Refuge of sinners, Health of the sick, and Mother of mercy and consolation. Turn to Mary as your loving Mother and open your wounded heart and talk to her—let her console you! One more step is necessary. Beg Jesus and Mary for the grace to pray for those who wounded you—pray for their eternal salvation. Something as simple as three Hail Marys for them every day. Praying for them will bring peace to your soul—the captive you set free will be yourself! Moreover, the mercy you show them will be showered upon you for your sins by your loving and Merciful Savior, for He cannot be outdone in generosity!

8. YOUR TEMPTATIONS. Now, here is another topic to talk with Jesus and Mary about: your temptations! Do not be ashamed in your conversations with Jesus and Mary to talk to them about your temptations. Everybody in the world is subject to temptations and until the very end of our life. The devil never goes on vacation. A temptation is not a sin until we give in to it. Bring to Jesus and Mary the temptations you may be experiencing. Here might be a few. Temptations to give in to discouragement—bring this to the Heart of Jesus. “Come to me all you who are weary and heavy burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Mt. 11:28) Temptations to give in to impurity—bring this to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. “Blessed are the pure of heart, for they will see God.” (Mt. 5:8) Temptations to laziness—it is not always about avoiding work we have to do; sometimes it is just avoiding the work we don’t like to do! Talk to Mary about this, who went in haste to help her elderly cousin Elizabeth pregnant with St. John the Baptist. Temptations to anger and impatience—turn to Jesus who carried the cross patiently and beg for His help. Temptations to lie—turn to Jesus who said: I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Temptations to disobey—to do our will instead of God’s will! Run to Jesus who was obedient even to death and death on the cross! Bringing your temptations to Jesus and Mary are great ways to overcome the devil!

9. EVEN YOUR SINS! Now this is a very important topic of conversation: your sins! Jesus did not come for the perfect; He came to save sinners. The name JESUS means God saves! The worst thing we can do is to fail to TRUST in Jesus, in His love and His mercy. Therefore, bring even your failures, your sins, to the most Merciful Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Tell Jesus that you love Him and you are sorry for these sins. Tell Him that you want to change. Beg Jesus for the grace and the strength to change. Then tell Jesus and Mary of your desire to go to confession. The prophet Isaiah encourages us with these words: “Though your sins be like scarlet, I will make them as white as the snow.” (Is. 1:18) Say these words often to Jesus, words that give great consolation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary: JESUS, I TRUST IN YOU!!! Also, none of us know the day or the hour we will die. Therefore, never go to bed without doing an examination of conscience and making a perfect act of contrition —that is to say, contrition of love, contrition for hurting the One we love and who loves us most in the world—with a firm purpose of amendment, meaning to avoid the persons, places, things, or circumstances that led us to sin —and the firm intention to go to confession as soon as possible. If we were to die in that state, our sins would be forgiven.

10. YOUR PLANS, YOUR GOALS, YOUR DREAMS. At every stage of life, we should have plans, goals, and even dreams. You should have long term goals, short term goals, and dreams to accomplish. Jesus and Mary are very interested in these. Open up your heart and talk to Jesus and Mary about these noble aspiration and goals. As we get older, the aspirations of this life should begin to give way to aspirations and longing for our eternal life! Jesus and Mary are very interested in your goals and dreams, in your future here and in eternity! Open up and talk to them about your future!

11. THANKSGIVING: AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE. Jesus and Mary rejoice when we tell them these two words: THANK YOU! Therefore, try to get in the habit of thanking Jesus and Mary for so many gifts that they have given to you. In sum, what do we have that we have not received from God? Nothing! Except our own sins that we have freely chosen. Stop, look up to Jesus and Mary and pour out your heart in gratitude!

12. IMITATE THE ONE GRATEFUL LEPER. On one occasion ten lepers came to Jesus and He healed the ten, but only one came back to give Jesus thanks! May you be that one grateful leper! Thank Jesus for your life—thank you, Jesus. Give thanks for your health—Lord Jesus, thanks! Thanks for your family—Lord, I lift my hands in thanks! For freedom—Jesus, once again thanks! For your Catholic faith—Lord, from the depths of my heart, thanks!!!

13. BECOME THE BEGGAR BEFORE JESUS. Beggars would sometimes approach Jesus and He would often grant what they requested. Now it is your turn to become the beggar. Jesus said: “Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you. (Mt. 7:7) Any need that is in your heart, open up and become a beggar before Jesus. He loves to help humble and trusting beggars!

14. BEG FOR OTHERS. Do not limit your prayers to yourself. Rather, go outside yourself and beg for others’ intentions, for others’ needs. Beg for your family members certainly. Then beg for world peace; beg for starving children; beg for the sick and the dying; beg for the homeless and the orphans. Beg also for the suffering souls in Purgatory to be released to Heaven! Beg for the conversion of poor sinners, of dying sinners. Many graces descend upon the world due to the prayers of beggars!

15. LOVE JESUS AND MARY. The most important sentiment that can flow from our heart is that of love. Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. Never forget how much Jesus and Mary love you. However, in your own words, you should tell them how much you really do love them. Love is the bond of perfection. Saint John of the Cross says: “In the twilight of our lives, we will be judged on love.” Now, in your own words, tell Jesus and Mary how much you love them. Beg them for the grace to love them more and more each day. Beg Jesus and Mary for the grace to love them now, tomorrow, and forever in heaven!

O God, you are my God, for you I long;
for you my soul is thirsting.
My body pines for you
like a dry weary land without water.
So I gaze on you in the sanctuary
to see your strength and your glory.

For your love is better than life,
my lips will speak your praise.
So I will bless you all my life,
in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul shall be filled as with a banquet,
my mouth shall praise you with joy.   

On my bed I remember you.
On you I muse through the night,
for you have been my help,
in the shadow of your wings I rejoice.
My soul clings to you;
Your right hand holds me fast.   (Ps 63:1-8)

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

Fourth Sunday of Advent

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

ADVENT RETREAT RESUMES Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday: See Facebook Forum with Fr. Larry and Fr. Ed 2:00 to 3:00 pm; Retreat Points posted on Website.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20th Lk.1: 5-25   “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”

• Mary’s TES to the Incarnation of the Son of God made man bears fruit for all generations, but specifically in the sublime vocation and mission of the Glorious Saint Joseph – husband of Mary, foster or earthly father of Jesus, and Patron of the Universal Church! It behooves us to know, imitate, and love Saint Joseph!

Part 1: Excerpt from Apostolic Letter Partis Corde (With a Father’s Heart), Pope Francis
Part 2: GLORIOUS SAINT JOSEPH, OUR SUBLIME MODEL by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

PART 1: Excerpt from Partris Corde (With a Father’s Heart), Apostolic Letter of the Holy Father Francis.

At the end of every account in which Joseph plays a role, the Gospel tells us that he gets up, takes the child and his mother, and does what God commanded him (cf. Mt 1:24; 2:14.21). Indeed, Jesus and Mary his Mother are the most precious treasure of our faith. We should always consider whether we ourselves are protecting Jesus and Mary, for they are also mysteriously entrusted to our own responsibility, care and safekeeping. The Son of the Almighty came into our world in a state of great vulnerability. He needed to be defended, protected, cared for and raised by Joseph. God trusted Joseph, as did Mary, who found in him someone who would not only save her life, but would always provide for her and her child.

In this sense, Saint Joseph could not be other than the Guardian of the Church, for the Church is the continuation of the Body of Christ in history, even as Mary’s motherhood is reflected in the motherhood of the Church. In his continued protection of the Church, Joseph continues to protect the child and his mother, and we too, by our love for the Church, continue to love the child and his mother.

GLORIOUS SAINT JOSEPH, OUR SUBLIME MODEL by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

If we want to look to the saints as models then we should raise our eyes, mind, and heart to the greatest of all saints and that is of course GLORIOUS SAINT JOSEPH!

The Church celebrates Liturgically, Glorious Saint Joseph twice a year: March 19th and May 1st. In March, he is celebrated under the title Saint Joseph, Husband of Mary. In May, his title is Saint Joseph the Worker.

In this short essay we would like to focus on Glorious Saint Joseph as Patron of Families and Patron of Fathers. As we all know, in the world in which we live the family is definitely in crisis, as well as fatherhood. For these two reasons we would like to raise our minds and hearts to Saint Joseph to pray for families, as well as to serve as a splendid and shining model for fathers to follow.

One of the titles given to Saint Joseph in the beautiful prayer that we call the Litany of Saint Joseph is the poetic expression: Saint Joseph, Ornament of the Domestic Life, pray for us. What do we mean by the word ornament? Very simply, an ornament has as its nature and purpose to adorn, to beautify, to dignify, to make noble. If Saint Joseph is given a more prominent role in the family, then families indeed will become more beautiful, more noble, more loving, more pure, more elegant, more humble, more dignified, more respectful—in a word, more holy!

Therefore, we encourage all families to invite the Glorious Saint Joseph to be a living member of your family, of course in union with Mary, the spouse of Saint Joseph, and Jesus, our Lord, Savior and God. Two suggestions on how to invite Saint Joseph to have a more prominent presence and role in the sanctification of your family. First, purchase either an attractive statue of Saint Joseph and place it in a prominent place, or you might prefer to purchase an attractive painting or picture of this great saint. Next, on a daily basis, have the family pray together a prayer to Saint Joseph; it might even be the Litany of Saint Joseph. Do not be surprised to experience real changes improving your family life in a short time if this is done. The great Saint Teresa of Avila, woman Doctor of the Church who loved and promoted devotion to Glorious Saint Joseph, commented that sometimes saints delay in their intercession. But not so with Saint Joseph, he works quickly! She said that he is the saint to turn to and beg for graces in all circumstances and situations.

Now let us move on to another dimension of the personality of the Great and Glorious Saint Joseph and that is with respect to his Paternity—or if you like, Saint Joseph in his role as father.

The Church actually gives Saint Joseph a theological category that places him in the apex or zenith of all of the saints and this is called Protodulia. By this title, we mean that Saint Joseph as saint is the first to be venerated among all the saints. Saint Bernardine of Siena and other saints give this reason, it is because of the dignity of Saint Joseph’s office or the dignity of his sublime vocation. For according to the vocation that God gives to any individual, He will always give corresponding graces commensurate with that vocation. The Sacrament of Marriage enables a husband and wife to be faithful to each other and to be responsible and holy parents. Holy Orders enables the priest to carry out his priestly duties with grace, order, love, and perfection. Likewise, God called the great Saint Joseph to be the Spouse of Mary, the Mother of God, as well as to be the earthly father of Jesus, the Savior of the world. Therefore, it stands to reason that due to these two sublime duties, Saint Joseph would be endowed with a super abundance of graces. For this reason, we want to love Saint Joseph, pray to Saint Joseph, and trust in the power of his intercession.

Saint Joseph as father! One of the most astounding and mind-boggling works of the Eternal Father was to send His Only Son Jesus, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, and allow Him to enter the world as a little Baby—vulnerable, weak, and totally dependent upon a human mother and father—Mary and Saint Joseph. Indeed, Saint Joseph was and always will be the earthly father of Jesus! This was the will of the eternal Father for all eternity. And of course, Saint Joseph was the best of all earthly fathers. We would like to highlight only a few sublime qualities of Saint Joseph as father so that it will serve as a springboard for many fathers to imitate. We all desperately need good role models to imitate. Now, more than ever, fathers need a role model and Saint Joseph is by far the best!

The following are six specific qualities that Saint Joseph lived as father to Jesus and as a model for all present and future fathers. May Glorious Saint Joseph intercede for fathers that they will faithfully carry out the sublime role that God has entrusted to them!

1. FAITHFUL SON OF THE ETERNAL FATHER. What is meant by this is simply the following. To be a good father, a man must first and foremost be a noble, loving, and obedient son to the heavenly Father. All fathers must pray with utmost sincerity the prayer of the Lord: “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven….” A true father must have God the Father as his guide, source, life, and inspiration. May fathers, in imitation of Saint Joseph, cultivate a deep relationship with the heavenly Father and thereby learn the true meaning of the Lord’s Prayer, The Our Father.

2. FAITHFUL AND LOVING SPOUSE. The Liturgy highlights how Saint Joseph cherished his wife, the Blessed Virgin Mary. The word cherish means that he really loved her. It is true that both Saint Joseph and Mary decided upon and lived faithfully a virginal marriage under the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Nonetheless, on a human level there existed a most profound and dynamic love that bound them together, a love imbued with the presence of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, to be true and genuine fathers, husbands must love God, but then they must really love their wives. For when they love their wives, this love overflows and descends upon their children like rainfall that falls and moistens the parched ground. A husband’s gesture of kindness and love given to his wife, is a gesture of kindness and love given to their children!

3. TEACHER. Saint Joseph taught Jesus on a human level, many important practices. He taught Jesus how to speak and say Abba—Daddy! He taught Jesus how to walk. He taught Jesus the art of craftsman as a carpenter. Now listen to this: Saint Joseph even taught Jesus how to pray! The words of the Psalms, such as “The Lord is my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall want.” (Psalm 23:1) Saint Joseph prayed these words and taught the Child Jesus to pray them. How sublime! The great Saint Joseph taught the Logos, the Eternal Word of God the Father, how to pray using human words! The documents of Vatican II and the Catechism of the Catholic Church insist on the fact that the parents—both father and mother—are the primary teachers of their children, most especially in that which refers to the faith. May good Saint Joseph inspire as a most splendid model, fathers to truly be the first and best teachers of their children in all areas: academic, social, human, emotional, but especially as teachers of morality, spirituality, and all that refers to the good of the soul of the child and their eternal salvation!

4. PRESENCE. Saint Joseph was PRESENT to his child and to his wife. What we mean by present refers to the all-pervasive sad fact that so many fathers today become what we might term Drop-out Dads! This term Drop-out Dad has a multiplicity of interpretations, all nefarious and noxious to the well-being of the child and the family at large. Here are a few: divorcees, those involved in adultery, those hooked to vices (drinking, porn, drugs, casino gambling or the horses), those who are physically present but emotionally disengaged or disconnected. We invite all to seek out the song Cat’s in the Cradle by artist Harry Chapin, and especially pay attention to the lyrics. In sum, the father is just too busy to be involved in the life and activities of his son and he never really gets to know his son. This indeed becomes a vicious cycle passed on from one generation to the next. Contrariwise, good Saint Joseph was always, and we emphasize always, available to the needs of his family—both his wife and Son! Saint Joseph prayed with his family, worked with his family, ate with his family, went to the Synagogue and Temple with his family, laughed with his family, relaxed with his family, and finally died in the arms of those he loved most—Jesus and Mary!

5. SACRIFICE. A very important note on the noble, sublime, and holy presence and person of the great Saint Joseph was his willingness to sacrifice himself and suffer for Jesus and Mary, not in one isolated case, but many times, and intense sufferings! Saint Joseph suffered due to the Virginal Conception of Jesus in the womb of Mary, until the angel cleared his doubts, and Saint Joseph took Mary to be his spouse. Saint Joseph made the long and grueling trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem, in total obedience to the governing authorities, accompanying his pregnant wife on a donkey those many miles. Upon arriving, Saint Joseph received nothing but rejection: “There was no place for them in the Inn.” (Lk. 2:7) Then Saint Joseph had a dream that the wicked King Herod wanted to kill his Son. In the bitter cold and darkness of night, this faithful, strong, and obedient husband and father, good Saint Joseph, fled with his family to Egypt, thereby saving Jesus from being slaughtered to death! Suffering all the trials and uncertainties of looking for lodging and finding work to support a family in a foreign country.

6. POWER OF LOVE. The strong, valiant, courageous, and trusting Saint Joseph experienced all these episodes and more, motivated by a most profound love for God and for his family—his wife and his Child! True and authentic fathers must have a compelling need to look up to the valiant and courageous Saint Joseph as model and guide. In other words, true fathers must be willing to work hard for their children, sacrifice for their children, and even be willing to SUFFER for their children, and sometimes suffer painfully for their children to bring them to safety from the many wiles of the modern Herods! Our human nature shirks and recoils from the prospect of suffering. However, it is part and parcel of human existence. Saint Joseph sacrificed himself and suffered intensely for one reason: LOVE!  This great saint loved God; he loved his wife Mary, and he had an all-encompassing love for his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God. May our modern fathers, our modern Dads, lift up their eyes to good Saint Joseph and beg for his heavenly intercession, especially in moments of trial when love demands pain and sacrifice! No doubt, Good Saint Joseph will be present, powerful, and providential in his assistance!

In conclusion, we would like to make this closing comment. The first so to speak devotees (those truly devoted to) this great and glorious Saint Joseph were both Our Lady and Jesus, the Lord! For all of us to have an integral, well-balanced, and complete relationship with Jesus and Mary, we must also have a great love for glorious Saint Joseph. So we would like to end with a prayer to Jesus, Mary and Saint Joseph: 

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.

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

Saturday of the Third Week of Advent

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

PART TWO: MEDITATE ON MY CONSECRATION TO JESUS THROUGH MARY (Continuation) BY FR. LARRY DARNELL, OMV

PART THREE: POINTS OF MEDITATION ON GOSPEL AND MARY’S HEART AND THE HEART OF CHRISTMAS BY FR. ED BROOM, OMV

Meditate on My Consecration to Jesus Through Mary

By St. Louis de Montfort

(Continuation)

IV. Fourth Paragraph

“In the presence of all the heavenly court I choose thee this day for my Mother and I deliver and consecrate to thee, my body and soul, my goods, both interior and exterior; and even the value of all my good actions, past, present and future, leaving to thee the entire and full right of disposing of me, and all that belongs to me, without exception, according to thy good pleasure, for the greater glory of God, in time and in eternity.“

A. “Mother and Queen” – Child 
B. “Consecrate to thee interior and exterior goods.”
C. “Greater Glory of God” – Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam

V. Fifth Paragraph

“Receive, O benignant Virgin, this little offering of my service and devotion, in honor of, and in union with, that subjection which the Eternal Wisdom deigned to have to thy maternity, in homage to the power which both of you have over this poor sinner, and in thanksgiving for the privileges with which the Holy Trinity has favored thee. I declare that I wish henceforth, as thy true servant, to seek thy honor and to obey thee in all things.”

A. “To seek thy honor”
B. “Obey thee in all things”

 C. The word “ servant”

1. Juan Diego —– The ever-glorious Virgin courteously answered, “Listen, my little one, know for certain that my servants are not few, messengers with whom I could send my word, who would carry out my will. However, it is imperative that you be the one, that it happen through your intervention. And I beg you, my dear son, and I command you.”

2. Sister Lucy —– “No, my daughter. Are you suffering a great deal? Don’t lose heart. I will never forsake you. My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and the way that will lead to God.”

3. Sister Agnes.  “My dear daughter”

4. Our goal: Our Lady’s goal —– John 15:5 – “I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.”

VI. Sixth Paragraph
“… as He has redeemed me by thee, by thee He may receive me! O Mother of Mercy, grant me the grace to obtain the true Wisdom of God; and for that end receive me among these whom thou lovest and teachest, whom thou leadest, nourishest and protectest as thy children and servants.

A. “By thee receive me.” 
B. Mother of Mercy

1. Love
2. Teach
3. Lead
4. Nourish
5. Protect

VII. Seventh Paragraph

“O faithful Virgin, make me in all things so perfect a disciple, imitator and servant of the Incarnate Wisdom, Jesus Christ thy Son, that I may attain, by thine intercession and thine example, to the fullness of His age on earth and of His glory in Heaven. Amen.”

A. “Make me” with the help of the Holy Spirit

1. Disciple
2. Imitator
3. Servant
4. Friend

 

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

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19th Lk.1: 5-25   The angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.”

• John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit at the moment Mary greeted Elizabeth. “When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb.” (Lk. 1:41)
• John is the Precursor preparing the people for the long awaited Messiah. “Among you stands one you do not know, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’”(Jn. 1: 26-30)
• Let us ask Saint John the Baptist, whom Jesus called “the greatest man born of woman” to pray for us during these final days of preparation to receive our new-born Savior into our heart and soul worthily, with great Joy, Love and Affection!

MARY’S HEART AND THE HEART OF CHRISTMAS by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

To comprehend the very meaning, profundity, sublimity, simplicity and depths of the Christmas event, why not lift our minds, hearts, and souls to Mary, who is truly the Mother of God, the Mother of the Church, and also the Mother of each one of us in an individual, intimate, and very personal way.

Who better than Mary can help us to penetrate the depths and authentic meaning of Christmas? But how often, if ever, have we run to Mary begging, and truly begging, for the grace to comprehend the height, the length and the depths of Christmas? Indeed, many extraordinary graces are at our disposal depending on one simple thing: our begging for these graces in prayer to Mary. She is the Mediatrix of all graces—meaning that God in His Divine Providence and in the economy of salvation has willingly chosen Mary as the vessel through which graces flow into our spiritual lives.

Therefore, we offer you humbly for your meditation and contemplation these simple but profound ideas so that through Mary, Christmas—the birth of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, will be born in the very depths of your heart. “Come, Lord Jesus, come through the Heart of Mary your Mother!”

1. MARY’S YES CHANGED THE WORLD. With heartfelt gratitude and overflowing love imbued with humility, we should thank Mary for having given her consent to the Archangel Gabriel with the words: “Behold, I am the hand maid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” (Lk. 1:38) Consequently: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” (from The Angelus prayer) Indeed, Mary’s YES resulted in the Incarnation of the Word of God, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. Whereupon Mary was overshadowed by the Holy Spirit (Shekinah—In Hebrew) and Jesus entered into her womb for the salvation of the entire world. It would be impossible to express adequately the gratitude that we owe to Mary for her YES to God; it was for your eternal salvation and mine!!!

2. MARY AS THE MODEL OF TRUE MATERNITY—WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A MOTHER.  Mary teaches by her most powerful example the sublime dignity of womanhood, most specifically in the sublime dignity and vocation of Motherhood. Women who are called to be Mothers—what a sublime vocation indeed—should humbly turn to Mary for guidance, help, support, and consolation in carrying out this exalted mission given to them by God. Of all the titles that are given to Mary, that of Mother of God (Theotokus—God bearer, in Greek) is by far the most sublime.

3. MARY: THE MODEL OF EUCHARISTIC ADORATION—CORPUS CHRISTI! Upon hearing the Good News of her elderly cousin Elizabeth’s conception, in haste and with great joy, Mary travels about 90 miles into the hill-country to visit her pregnant-elderly cousin to render her service. During the entire distance from Nazareth to Ain-Karim (the residence of Elizabeth) Mary was a living Eucharistic Procession, if you like a Corpus-Christi Procession. She carried Jesus within her womb and the whole of the hill-country was blessed and sanctified by her presence and the presence of Jesus within her. Mary as model and teacher shows us how we are called to worship Jesus in the Consecrated Host— “O come, let us adore Him; O come, let us adore Him; O come, let us adore Him, our Eucharistic Lord!”

4. MARY, JOSEPH AND THE LAW OF SACRIFICE. The time has arrived for Mary to bring forth her Child—the Lord Jesus, Savior of the world. However, an edict has been issued by Caesar Augustus that all have to be enrolled in their town of origin. Despite Mary’s pregnancy that had arrived at nine-months, she still had to make this long, tiring, grueling trip to the city of Bethlehem, the city of their ancestor, King David. Without questioning, complaining, or wasting time, Mary and the Baby Jesus within her womb, and Saint Joseph set off on their journey to Bethlehem. What a powerful lesson they teach us! Obedience, patience, fortitude, trust in God, penance and mortification, sacrifice, and most especially, a true love for carrying out the Will of the Eternal Father—all of these lessons in virtue Mary presents to us for our imitation!

5. REJECTIONS. Upon their arrival in Bethlehem, undoubtedly exhausted, cold, hungry, drained physically and emotionally, they are hoping at least to find lodging for the night, nothing luxurious, simply a roof over their heads to shelter them from the cold wind and possible precipitation. Not so: it never happens! Among the saddest words ever written are these: “There was no place for them in the Inn!” There is an immense amount of material for our own meditation in these, very likely, multiple rejections. These few we offer. Despite the rejection that Mary and Joseph receive, they never give into resentment. What about you and me? How do you react to rejection? Most likely in a very human way: anger, resentment, bitterness, even perhaps a desire to seek revenge! Next, a very painful but necessary question: how often have we imitated the Inn-keepers by rejecting God? Among the many definitions for sin is that of Rejecting God! Our firm purpose right now should be the following: “Yes, definitely Yes! There is room for you, Lord Jesus, Mary, and Saint Joseph in the Inn of my heart and soul!”

6. THE CONDITION OF THE STABLE OF BETHLEHEM. The rejections lead to the eventual discovery of some forlorn, obscure, poor cave that serves as a refuge for animals in inclement weather conditions. We call it the stable of Bethlehem. What are some of the qualities of the condition of this Stable of Bethlehem where the Creator of the world is to be born? Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen comments: “The Creator of the universe had no place to be born in His own creation.” Cold, damp, humid, musty, dark, dirty, hard and foul smelling (from the animals and their leavings)—all of these descriptions and more describe the atmosphere or milieu where the Savior of the world chooses to be born through the consent of the Virgin Mary—His Mother and our Mother. All these descriptive words can easily be applied to the state of our soul and the reality of sin in our own interior caves. Coldness, darkness, foul-smell, and hardness— all too often reflect the interior state of our soul. May the Infant Jesus attain for us a true conversion of heart!

7. POVERTY AND DETACHMENT FROM THE SLAVE OF MATERIALISM. A more clear and challenging message cannot be presented to our eyes and heart for meditation. How easy it is for us to become true slaves of the material world that surrounds us, that envelops us, that enthralls us, that captivates us, that allures and seduces us into believing that things can make us truly happy. The birth of the Infant Jesus in Bethlehem from the Virgin Mary, with Saint Joseph present at all times, is a clarion call to each one of us to seek our true happiness in the Creator over the creature, in the spiritual over the material, in persons over things, in a desire for Heaven over pursuing worldly happiness that never fully satisfies. The words of Jesus resound powerfully: “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and everything else will be given to you beside.” (Mt. 6:33)

8. BETHLEHEM: THE HOUSE OF BREAD! The authentic interpretation of Bethlehem is that of House of Bread! How appropriate and how rich in symbolism—better yet, Sacramental-symbolism! One of the most important discourses that Jesus gives in His Public life is in the synagogue of Capernaum, known as the Bread of Life discourse. A brief summary of that discourse are these words of Jesus: “I am the Bread of Life; whoever eats my body and drinks my blood will have everlasting life and I will raise him up on the last day.” (Jn. 6:53) What a profound and beautiful parallel! Jesus, born in Bethlehem, in the House of Bread, will later preach the most sublime teaching on His identity in the Sacrament of the Eucharist by declaring Himself the true Bread of Life that came down from Heaven. “Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” (Jn. 6:51) May we have an insatiable hunger and thirst for this Bread of Life.

9. CONTEMPLATE THE INFANT JESUS IN THE ARMS OF MARY. Spend some time in profound contemplation seeing the Infant Jesus in the arms of Mary, His Mother. Then contemplate the Infant Jesus in the arms of Good Saint Joseph. Now it is your time. Mary turns to you and very gently places the new-born Infant Jesus in your arms. Hold Him close to your heart and tell Him how much you truly love Him and how you want your love for Him to grow and grow! In truth, if you desire it, this can happen every time you receive Holy Communion worthily—the Infant Baby Jesus is now present in the Bethlehem of your heart: O come, let us adore Him! Remember, the Eucharist is the total Jesus – the new-born Infant, the Boy lost in the Temple, the Teen working in the carpenter shop alongside Saint Joseph, the Itinerant Preacher and Miracle Worker who had no place to lay His head at night, the Suffering Servant on the Cross giving His life to give us life, life in abundance, life eternal!

10. SILENT NIGHT, HOLY NIGHT, NIGHT OF PEACE. In silent, contemplative, profound, and if possible, extended prayer be present to the Holy Family—the Infant Jesus, Mary, and Saint Joseph in this time of the birth of Our Savior. Contemplate the Infant Jesus in silence through the eyes and Immaculate Heart of Mary. Allow the Holy Spirit to move your heart to express these most noble sentiments: overflowing gratitude, joy, praise and adoration, humble reparation, awe and wonder, but most especially great love! For, “God so loved the world that He sent His only-begotten Son, that those who believe in Him may not die but have eternal life.” (Jn. 3:16) Jesus, Son of Mary, may you be born every day in the very depths of my interior Bethlehem. “Come, Lord Jesus, come through the Heart of Mary your Mother!”

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