Friday 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 BY FR. LARRY DARNELL, OMV

PART THREE: POINTS OF MEDITATION ON GOSPEL AND MARY IS TRULY OUR LOVING MOTHER BY FR. ED BROOM, OMV

Meditate on My Consecration to Jesus Through Mary

By St. Louis de Montfort

To ask you to join me and apply it to yourselves. I choose three paragraphs for today.

It is on this account that I have recourse to the intercession of Thy holy Mother, whom Thou has given me for a mediatrix with Thee. It is through her that I hope to obtain of Thee contrition, the pardon of my sins, and the acquisition, and preservation of wisdom.

• “Mediatrix with Thee”
• It is through her that I hope to obtain of Thee contrition, the pardon of my sins, and the acquisition and preservation of wisdom.
  • Wisdom – knowledge of the will of God. The desire to do it, the strength and grace to do it.

O Queen of Heaven and earth, to whose empire everything is subject which is under God. Hail, O sure refuge of sinners, whose mercy fails no one. Hear the desires which I have of the Divine Wisdom; and for that end receive the vows and offerings which in my lowliness I present to thee.

• “Divine Wisdom”, Christ Himself
  • 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.”

I, (Name) ____________________, a faithless sinner, renew and ratify today in thy hands the vows of my Baptism; I renounce forever Satan, his pomps and works; and I give myself entirely to Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Wisdom, to carry my cross after Him all the days of my life, and to be more faithful to Him than I have ever before.

• “The works and pomps of Satan.” What are they? They are how he lays snares for men and bind them with chains. First, they are to tempt them to covet riches (as Satan himself is accustomed to do in most cases) that they may the more easily attain the empty honors of this world, and then come to overweening pride.

The first step, then, will be riches, the second honor, the third pride. From these three steps the evil one leads to all other vices.

• “To give myself entirely to Christ.” What does this mean? This is not a matter only of disposing oneself to hear a teaching and obediently accepting a commandment. More radically, it involves holding fast to the very person of Jesus, partaking of his life and destiny, sharing in his free and loving obedience to the will of the Father.

• I renew and ratify not only my vows of Baptism but also my vows of
  • Religious Life – Poverty, Chastity, Obedience
  • Priesthood – Obey the Bishop, Maintain celibacy, Imitate what I preach.
  • “It is the same priest, Christ Jesus, whose sacred person his minister truly represents.”
• You can renew your vows of Matrimony.
  • Unity and indissolubility, Fidelity of conjugal love, Openness to fertility, Responsibility to educate children
• Acceptance of a different situation.
  • Chastity
  • Single Parent
• Vocation to a single life

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

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18th Mt. 1: 18-25   “Behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her.’”

• When Mary consented to be the Mother of Jesus, she also consented to be our loving Mother, for she shared in the Divine Plan of Salvation of the Eternal Father to save His beloved children from their ignorance, blindness, and willful sinfulness through Jesus, the Son of God made man, who obeyed the will of his Heavenly Father even to death on the cross.
• Before the advent or coming of Jesus, the gates of heaven were closed to all mankind. Because Jesus (which means Savior) paid our debt of sin, the gates of heaven are now open to all. We can no longer blame our first parents, Adam and Eve, or anyone else if we lose our eternal salvation. Jesus freed each of us to choose for ourselves – heaven or hell? Moreover, through the teachings and guidance of the Church, the Sacraments and the graces they confer, the prayers of our Blessed Mother and the Angels and Saints in heaven and on earth, we have every means available to go to heaven. We choose our eternal destination – no one else.
• Therefore, with great gratitude and humility, let us turn our gaze to our loving Mother Mary as our refuge and anchor in the storms and bitterness of life, for in her Immaculate Heart we will find rest and strength for the journey to our real home, heaven and the eternal embrace of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

MARY IS TRULY OUR LOVING MOTHER by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

Saint Therese of Lisieux, a young Carmelite saint who died at the tender age of 24 years, loved the Blessed Virgin Mary very much and she was known to have said: “It is true that Our Lady is Queen of Heaven and earth, but at the same time she is more Mother than Queen.” This is the wonderful topic that we would like to address in this short exposition on the Blessed Virgin Mary, “God’s Masterpiece of Creation.” (Saint Louis de Montfort)

MARY AS MOTHER.  In all truth it can be asserted that Mary is indeed the Mother of God. Mary is also the Mother of the Church, which is the Mystical Body of Christ. But of great importance to each and every one of us, Mary is our own loving Mother.

MARY’S TITLES AND PRIVILEGES.  Mary indeed has many titles, for example, Mystical Rose, Tower of David, Tower of Ivory, Ark of the Covenant, Virgin most pure, Virgin most holy, Gate of Heaven, Morning Star, and many other poetic, mystical, as well as Biblical titles. Nonetheless, of all the titles and privileges that can rightly be given to Mary, the greatest of all of these is this: MARY IS THE MOTHER OF GOD!

MARIAN DOGMAS.  Up to this point, the Church has officially declared four Marian dogmas, a truth revealed by God through the Church that must be accepted. They are: Mary’s Immaculate Conception, Mary’s Divine Maternity, Mary’s Perpetual Virginity, and finally, Mary’s Assumption into heaven. Of these sublime Marian privileges or Marian dogmas, the greatest and most sublime is Mary’s Divine Maternity—which means that Mary was chosen by God to be His Mother; Mary is truly the Mother of God. This we celebrate every year on Christmas, as well as to start off the New Year on January 1st.

MARY AS MOTHER: THE ROLE OF A MOTHER.  On a natural plane, a mother has these basic qualities. First and foremost, the nature of a mother is to give birth or give life to the child that she has nurtured in her womb. Second, a mother nurtures the child first within her womb, and then as her little child. Third, a mother is intent upon clothing her child, so as to protect them from the cold and from sickness. Fourth, a mother is always watchful to protect her child from danger and the possibility of getting hurt. Fifth, a mother is intent upon educating her child and in many ways: physically, intellectually, morally, and spiritually. Sixth, a mother will treat her child’s wounds after they have fallen and scraped their knee, kissing the wound for quick healing. Seventh, a mother listens to her child whenever they want to open up and express what is in the depths of their heart. Eighth, a mother has the courage to correct her child when her child has made some error or is moving in a dangerous direction. Ninth, a true mother comforts her child by her warmth, tenderness, concern, compassion, and loving care. Tenth and finally, the most important and characteristic note of an authentic mother is that she loves her child. It is a love without limits, irrespective of where the child is and what the child has done—her love is vast as the ocean! All of these maternal qualities can be attributed to Mary our Mother on a higher and more sublime plane. Let us now look at these motherly attributes and apply them to Mary as our Heavenly Mother.

1. MARY AS MOTHER GIVES LIFE.  Mary is the full of grace from the very moment of her Immaculate Conception in the womb of her mother, Saint Anne. Grace is the supernatural life of the soul. Mary prays for us so that we will attain grace beginning with our Baptism; she prays for us so that this grace will grow and abound during our entire life; finally, she prays for us to have the grace of all graces, and that is to die in the state of grace, so that we will be saved for all eternity. Mary, my Mother, attain for me life and life in abundance!

2. MARY AS MOTHER NURTURES OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE. Through a fervent prayer life in which we speak often and confidently to Mary, our loving Mother, she attains for us growth in our spiritual life. Once again, Mary, the full of grace, attains for us special insights in our intellect and touches of grace in our soul, so that we may grow and flourish like a healthy tree growing alongside an abundant and gushing stream.

3. MARY AS MOTHER HELPS TO CLOTHE US.  Adam and Eve, after committing the Original Sin, recognized their nakedness. On a spiritual plane, when we are imbued with sanctifying grace through Baptism, we are spiritually clothed with the most exquisite garment. Mary as our Mother prays for us that we will always be clothed with this garment of grace, and if we lose it due to mortal sin, Mary as our Mother prays for us so that we will recover grace through a good Sacramental Confession as soon as possible.

4. MARY AS MOTHER WATCHES OVER HER CHILDREN TO PROTECT THEM.

Mary as Mother is keenly aware of the many dangers that her children are exposed to from within and from without. The devil, the flesh, and the world are in constant pursuit of our attention, as well as our soul. Mary as Mother has her careful, attentive, and watchful eye gazing upon us with love, and she warns us through grace and through inspirations of the dangers that encroach upon us.

5. MARY AS MOTHER EDUCATES US.  As a good mother strives to provide a good education for her children, so does Mary. Father Robert Fox, a true expert on Our Lady, most especially Our Lady of Fatima, pointed out that Our Lady of Fatima came in a very special way as TEACHER!!! The words and messages of Our Lady of Fatima turn out to be a superb and excellent teaching, an excellent catechism, a clear and poignant signpost on how to arrive at what is most important—our eternal salvation. Jesus and Mary are the best of Teachers, let us listen to them and obey their advice!

6. MARY AS MOTHER HEALS HER WOUNDED CHILDREN.  When a child falls off a bike into a mud-puddle and cuts their knee, the mother is the first one to run and succor the child. Lifting the child out of the mud, kissing the child, embracing the child, cleansing the child and changing their clothes, dressing the child’s wound, and finally giving the child some hot chocolate—these are all gestures of a loving mother. When we are wounded, Mother Mary comes to us speaking words of comfort: Do not worry… I am here to bring you healing. We should bring our gaping wounds to both Jesus, the Wounded-Healer, and Mary, Mother of Jesus the Wounded Healer!

7. MARY AS MOTHER LISTENS TO US.  A true mother is ready to listen to what is in the heart of her child. On a much loftier plane, Mary as our Mother is always ready to listen to us, to respond to our problems, to help us in our needs. The beauty of Mary as LISTENER is the simple but all-consoling fact that Mary is never too tired, occupied, absorbed, or if you like, too busy to listen to us when we want to talk to her. We should get in the habit of talking to Mary as often as our heart desires. Mary’s ears are always attentive to the supplications of her children. Moreover, not only does Mary listen to us with her ears, but also with her Immaculate Heart, and she understands us perfectly!

8. MARY AS MOTHER CORRECTS HER WANDERING CHILDREN.  A loving mother is not bashful or slow to correct an errant child. If there is a wandering and hungry wolf outside, the mother will keep her child inside and lock the door, especially if that child is curious and tends to wander. Fraternal Correction indeed is a dimension of the theological virtue of charity, which Saint Thomas Aquinas defines as: “Charity is willing the good of the other.” An example of Mary correcting her children is, again, in the Fatima messages. Mother Mary warned that most souls are lost due to sins of the flesh, and that many souls are lost due to a lack of prayer and sacrifice. Gently but firmly, Mary as Mother exhorts us, her children, to intensify our prayer life, to be willing to live a more sacrificial life, and to strive to live a life of greater purity. This reminds us of the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are the pure of heart; for they will see God.” (Mt. 5:8)

9. MARY AS MOTHER COMFORTS HER CHILDREN.  In the midst of the many sufferings, trials, tribulations, afflictions, and setbacks in this short life on earth, which is merely a short pilgrimage on the highway to heaven, Our Lady as loving Mother ardently desires to comfort us. Among the many consoling titles of Mary is Our Lady of Consolation. Still more, the Marian prayer that we say to conclude the most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary is that of the HAIL HOLY QUEEN. This consoling prayer starts with these words: Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope! Beyond a doubt, these few words are like a gentle dew descending upon the dry and parched desert of our soul. Indeed, in the sorrows, sadness, and failures that we all experience in life, which is a valley of tears, we should run to Mary as our Mother to comfort us. She will come quickly to soothe our sorrows with the comfort and consolation of her loving heart!

10. MARY AS MOTHER TRULY LOVES US, AND LOVES US INTENSELY!  A natural mother loves her children. However, human love has limits and it often wanes, declines, and can even grow cold. This is reality! Not so in the case of Mother Mary. The love of the most pure and Immaculate Heart of Mary never wanes, diminishes, or grows cold. It is a constant, intense, and faithful love. Mary as Mother loves us irrespective of where we are, what we have done, or what we have failed to do. Her love is most pure and perfect. Possibly the best way to understand to a limited degree the love Mother Mary has for you and for me would be by meditating upon the words of the Doctor of Grace, the great Saint Augustine: “If you were to put all the love, of all of the mothers, of all times and all places together, the love that Mary has for you is much greater!” In other words, it is impossible to fathom the inexpressible, sublime, ineffable love that Mary as Mother has for you!

In conclusion, we hope and pray that starting now you will experience the extraordinary power of the presence of Mary in your life, most especially as your Heavenly Mother. As Mother, she will attain life and life in abundance for you. As Mother, she will nurture and strengthen your spiritual life. As Mother, she will clothe you with the royal garment of sanctifying grace. As attentive Mother, she has her loving eyes fixed upon you at all times. As a good Mother, she will help you to be educated in the Gospel—the Good News of salvation that Jesus her Son taught. Wounded? Mary is also known as Health of the sick, and like Jesus, she will intercede as Physician. Never too busy, Mary as Mother will lend you an attentive ear and she is the best of listeners. If you are a wandering sheep from the fold, Mary, as Mother of the Good Shepherd, aware of the presence and danger of the wolves, will bring you back to the fold. In the midst of the sorrows and failures of life, Mary is “your life, your sweetness, and your hope.” (Hail Holy Queen) Finally, Mary as Mother loves you intensely with her Immaculate Heart and desires that one day you will be with her forever in heaven to praise, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit for all eternity. Amen.

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

Thursday of the Third Week of Advent

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

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17th Mt. 1: 1-17   “The Book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.”

• We have the genealogy of Jesus in today’s Gospel. Now let us look at what the Church and the Saints have to tell us about the Mother of Jesus, Mary Most Holy.

GOD’S SPIRITUAL MASTERPIECE, MARY MOST HOLY! By Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

“Mirror of Justice”, “ Seat of Wisdom”, “Cause of our Joy”, “Spiritual Vessel”, “Singular Vessel of Devotion”,   “Mystical Rose”, “Tower of David”,  “Tower of Ivory”, “House of Gold”,  “Ark of the Covenant”, “Gate of Heaven”, “Morning Star”,  “Daughter of God the Father”,  “Mother of God the Son”, “Mystical Spouse of the Holy Spirit”, “Queen of all Hearts”,  “Stella Maris” (Star of the Sea), “God’s Masterpiece of Creation” — all of these and many others are poetical as well as mystical names given to Mary, who is truly the Mother of God, the Mother of the Church, and our own dear Mother in the order of grace!!!

In this short essay we have as our purpose the presentation of ten rather short sayings or proverbs that saints have expressed in honor of Mary, the Mother of God, whom they loved so much in this life, and who are now present loving her in heaven, of course adoring and praising the Blessed Trinity. Mary will never prevent our drawing close to God, as many have asserted in the past and some maintain in the present. On the contrary, the more we get to know and love the Blessed Virgin Mary, then the more we get to know and love the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In fact, Our Lady, Mary most holy is intimately connected with the Blessed Trinity as pointed out by Saint Louis de Montfort. She is the Daughter of the Eternal Father, the Mother of the Incarnate Son, and she is the Mystical Spouse of the Holy Spirit.

The last words we have recorded of Our Lady in Sacred Scripture are found in the context of the Wedding Feast of Cana in Galilee in which she says: “Do whatever He tells you.” (Jn. 2:5) This is actually the best advice in the world—if only the world would strive to put into practice these short but all important words, the world would be radically transformed for the better!!! In sum, Mary does not distance us from Jesus but draws us close to the Sacred Heart of Jesus that she formed in her womb for nine months! Saint Louis de Montfort teaches us: “Our Lady is the shortest, easiest, and the most efficacious path to Jesus.” Expressed in one word, Our Lady is the SHORTCUT to God!!!

Therefore, let us read, meditate and be inspired by the words that ten saints have expressed in their overflowing love for the Blessed Virgin Mary, whom we pray to as “our life, our sweetness, and our hope.” (Hail Holy Queen)

1. OUR LADY AND THE TRINITY — The Cure of Ars / Saint John Marie Vianney, Patron of parish priests and confessors: “The Eternal Father  delights in regarding the Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary as the masterpiece of His hands. The Son delights in it as the Heart of the Mother, the source from which He received the Blood that redeemed us. The Holy Spirit dwells in Mary as in a temple.”

2. THE PERPETUAL VIRGINITY (ABSOLUTE PURITY) OF MARY MOST HOLY— Saint Augustine, the Doctor of Grace: “The Virgin Mother gave birth from her fruitful womb and inviolate body to Him Who became visible for us, to Him by Whom she had been created. While conceiving, she was Virgin; while giving birth, she was virgin, a virgin in her pregnancy, a virgin while carrying her son, a virgin forever.”

3. LIVING PERPETUALLY IN THE PRESENCE OF MARY — Saint Bernard, the Mellifluous Doctor: “Let Mary never be far from your lips or heart. And to obtain the fruit of her prayers, do not forget the example of her life. With her support, you will never fall. Beneath her protection, you will never fear. Under her guidance you will never tire. And with her help, you will reach your heavenly goal.”

4. THE SECRET OF MARY AND GRACE — Saint Louis de Montfort, author of True Devotion to Mary: “Happy are those to whom the Holy Spirit reveals the Secret of Mary in order that they may come to know her. Happy are those to whom He opens the ‘Enclosed Garden’ that they may enter, and to whom He gives access to the “Sealed Fountain” that they may drink of the living waters of grace.”

5. GRACE OF BEING A SERVANT OF MARY — Saint John Damascene, Eastern Doctor of the Church: “To serve Mary and to be her courtier is the greatest honor we can possibly possess. For to serve the Queen of Heaven is already to reign on high, and to live under her commands is a greater thing than to govern.”

6. MARY AS OUR SURE AND SECURE REFUGE — Saint Anthony of Padua, the Evangelical Doctor of the Church, also known as “The Hammer of Heretics”: “Seek refuge in Mary because she is the city of refuge. We know that Moses set up three cities of refuge for anyone who inadvertently killed his neighbor. Now the Lord has established a refuge of mercy, even for those who deliberately commit evil. Mary provides refuge and strength for the sinner.”

7. MARY AS MODEL OF SPEECH AND CONVERSATION—Saint Athanasius, Eastern Doctor of the Church: “Mary’s words were discreet, and her voice was measured. She did not shout and she was careful not to say anything bad about another person—nor even listen willingly to wrong that was spoken.”

8. MARY MOST HOLY: THE MODEL OF SAINTS — Saint Vincent Palotti, founder of the Palottines: “Those who have great devotion to Mary not only will be saved but also will, through her intercession, become great saints. Furthermore, their holiness will grow from day to day.”

9. MARY AND THE MOST HOLY ROSARY — Saint Francis de Sales, author of Introduction to the Devout Life and Treatise on Love, and Doctor of the Church: “My most pleasant task is saying my Rosary and praying to my heavenly Mother. It is the most pure joy of my heart.” Saint Pope John Paul II also asserted that the Holy Rosary was his favorite prayer!

10. MARY AS THE STAR OF THE SEA— Saint Thomas Aquinas, the Angelic Doctor and author of the Summa Theologica: “The Blessed Virgin Mary is called the Star of  the Sea. Those who sail the ocean seas are guided to the port they seek by carefully observing the stars. In the same way, Christians are guided to the heavenly glory by keeping their eyes on Mary.”

Friends of Jesus and Mary, spend some time in silent ponder and reflection on these few short but substantial sayings of the saints on their love, devotion,  and limitless confidence in the person and intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Like Saint Juan Diego, who encountered Our Lady of Guadalupe, may you cast all of your fears, worries, anxieties, sicknesses, doubts, struggles, even failures into the Heart of Mary who is truly your Mother, as well as your life, your sweetness, and your hope. Never was it known that anyone who fled to her protection was left unaided!

Appendix:

Here is a true story as told by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV:

A young man was assaulted with thoughts of confusion, sadness, and near-despair. Due to erroneous theological ideas—that of Jansenism*—he could barely eat or sleep, and life proved to be an almost unbearable cross. However, an occurrence took place that radically transformed the life of this young man. Entering into a Church dedicated to Mary, under the title Our Lady of Victories, the young man knelt down in front of a beautiful image of the Blessed Virgin Mary. There was also a prayer to Mary, commonly known as The Memorare, attributed to the Mellifluous Doctor, Saint Bernard. With all of his heart, mind, soul, and strength, the young man prayed this prayer to Mary:

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to you do I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer me.  Amen.

After praying this prayer with fervor and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, a miracle occurred in this young man. The dense cloud of sadness, almost despair—lifted, dissipated, and vanished, as it were, into thin air! The sad, melancholic, and hopeless disposition that had almost consumed him, was transformed in the depths of his soul into peace, happiness, joy, and renewed hope! He was a new young man!

This miraculous transformation can certainly be attributed to the powerful intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary who never fails to come to the rescue of her children! From that moment on, the young man had an intimate, filial, tender, and dynamic love and devotion to Mary, which was manifested in his frequent praying of the Memorare.

The name of this young man was Francis de Sales. We now know him as Saint Francis de Sales, Doctor of the Church!

Pray this prayer daily to Mary with great love, trust, and confidence. It is a prayer she never fails to answer, not always in the way we expect, but always in the best way!

*Jansenism was an erroneous teaching stating only a few predestined elect would be saved.

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

Wednesday of the Third Week of Advent

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

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16th   Mt. 7: 18-23   Jesus said to them: “Go tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.”

Part 1: Meditations on the Spiritual Exercises… (Author unknown)
Part 2: BE HOLY AS YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER IS HOLY! By Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

PART 1: Taken from Meditations on the Spiritual Exercises… (Author unknown)

The Incarnation consists in this, that God has united the creature to Himself in a new way. The Word becomes Incarnate to recall men to the love of God. Consider that creatures, instead of leading man to God, usurped all the affections of his heart. What does the Divine Word do to restore this heart to the empire of charity—to the love of God His Creator? Because man is under the dominion of his senses, He appears in a sensible form; because man is smitten with the love of creatures, He makes Himself one of them, He becomes man, that He may more irresistibly captivate the human heart.

He gives the first example of the love He asks: “You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, with your whole soul, with your whole mind, and with your whole strength.” His whole life is an example of devotion and service to His Father. Reminding us that there is not a single moment of our lives that does not belong to God.

Recall again the life on earth of the Word Incarnate. See Him bestowing on our redemption all His thoughts, all His affections, all His works, His humanity, His entire divinity—and say, has He not also fulfilled the precept of charity in its full extent towards man?

Finally, recall that His Incarnation depends on the consent of His creature. God willed that men should owe Jesus Christ, and with Him their redemption, to the free-will of the Blessed Virgin. Conceive, then, a great respect and confidence for the Mother of God, and never forget that the Word Incarnate having only come into the world through Mary, it is only through Mary that we can go to Him.

The Word became man to bring men back to the knowledge of God. Consider that the Incarnation is the plainest proof of the Divine perfections. It reveals the grandeur and wisdom of God to invent this wonderful union of Divine and human nature for His glory and our salvation. His holiness, that man’s offense could only be repaired by the satisfaction of God Himself in the Person of the Son Incarnate. His mercy, which instead of abandoning guilty man to eternal damnation, takes pity on him and saves him. His love, which was not content with the gifts bestowed on man in the order of creation, but desires to present him with God the Son as his Savior and Source of life in the Blessed Trinity.

PART 2: BE HOLY AS YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER IS HOLY! By Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

All of us are called to become saints. How do we know? Jesus commanded us: “Be holy as your heavenly Father is holy.” In other words: Become a saint! Most saints have not been officially canonized, but are anonymous, unknown except by God alone.

Given that this is a serious command given by Jesus Himself, to be holy, to become a saint, let us highlight ten of the most salient notes or characteristics of the saints. This will serve to motivate each and every one of us to become who God has called us to be—a saint!

1. ANTITHESIS OF SAINTLINESS: SIN. Let us start with the negative. Saints have an abhorrence; they truly detest the one major evil in the world—the reality of sin. Modern culture glamorizes and even promotes sin; the saints fight against it. The motto of Saint Dominic Savio for his First Holy Communion was the following immortal assertion: DEATH RATHER THAN SIN!

2. PRAYER! It is absolutely impossible to come across and read the life of any saint who did not take their prayer life seriously and spend sizable blocks of time dedicated to prayer, which is union and friendship with God. (Saint Teresa of Avila) Face it, we can all improve our prayer lives; we can pray more and we can always pray better. May the Holy Spirit enlighten and inspire us to upgrade our prayer-life in our pursuit of holiness.

3. HUMILITY. Saints are truly humble. By humility we mean the following: saints attribute all the good they do to God—the origin, the author and the end of all good. When they are complimented on any good done, almost spontaneously the saint responds: Thanks be to God!

4. HUNGER FOR HOLINESS. An authentic saint has a real hunger and thirst for exactly that—holiness, to become a saint. If you like, the saint lives out the first verse of Psalm 41: “As the deer yearns for running waters, so my soul yearns for you, O Lord, my God.” A saint admits that they are not a saint, but really longs to be a saint one day. This longing, this yearning indeed is half the battle for attaining the crown of holiness, the triumph of winning the crown of saintliness. Many yearn for money, power, pleasure, success, and possessions. Not so for the saint. They want to love God fully, totally and unreservedly. They long to be the saint that God has called them to be!

5. CHARITY. The saint is motivated to assimilate and carry out in word and deed the greatest of all the Commandments—the Command to love both God and neighbor. If you want to see a graphic image of charity then lift up your eyes to Jesus crucified, Jesus hanging from the cross, and you have a clear image of charity. We are called to love God totally and to love our neighbor as ourselves. On one occasion, after enormous accomplishments, Jesus appeared to Saint Thomas Aquinas and asked the saint what gift he desired most. Immediately Aquinas responded: “Lord, grant me the grace to love you more and more each day.” Saint John of the Cross asserted: “In the twilight of our existence we will be judged on love.” Saint Frances de Sales adds this: “The measure of love is to love without measure.”

6. ZEAL FOR THE SALVATION OF SOULS. Two saints met, one a youngster, the other a priest. The youngster looked up and saw on the wall a few words written in Latin and he asked the priest what those words were and what they meant. The priest responded by saying that those words were his motto and they were: “Give me souls and take all the rest away.” The priest was Saint John Bosco; the youngster was Saint Dominic Savio. An authentic saint loves God and loves what God loves—the salvation of immortal souls. One soul is worth more than all of creation in the natural world. The reason for the excruciating pain that Jesus suffered in His Passion and the outpouring of His most Precious Blood was precisely this: to save immortal souls for all eternity. The stigmata for fifty years of Saint Padre Pio, the 13-18 hours daily in the Confessional in the life of the Cure of Ars, the heroic sacrifices of the little children of Fatima, the victimhood of Saint Faustina—all had one motivational reason and force: love of God, and hunger and thirst for the salvation of souls.

7. STRUGGLING SINNERS WHO RISE WHEN THEY FALL. Many have been deceived into an artificial, sugar-sweet, somewhat romantic vision of the saints as being exempt from human weaknesses and moral failures. Nothing could be further from the truth! Saints are born sinners. However, a common characteristic of the saints is that upon falling, sinners that they are, they resiliently bounce back; they return to the Lord through Confession, good will, and a firm purpose of amendment. Venerable Bruno Lanteri taught NUNC CAEPI—meaning if we fall, then we must rise immediately and trust all the more in the grace and mercy of the loving Heart of Jesus! No surprise that in the Diary of Saint Faustina, Jesus reminds us that the greatest sinner can be the greatest saint if they fully trust in the mercy of Jesus. Jesus, I trust in you! Venerable Fulton J. Sheen reminds us that the first canonized saint was a murderer, insurrectionist, and thief who hung on a cross next to Jesus on Calvary. As Sheen points out: “And he died a thief because he stole heaven.” Read and meditate upon the Parable of the Prodigal Son, that can also be termed the Parable of the Merciful Father. (Luke 15: 11-32)

8. FERVENT LOVE FOR THE SOURCE OF ALL HOLINESS: THE HOLY EUCHARIST. The ultimate source of grace, purity, strength and holiness is Jesus Himself. The most efficacious means by which we unite ourselves with Jesus in His Mystical Body is through the Sacraments. The greatest of all of the Sacraments is the Most Holy Eucharist for the simple but profound reason that the Eucharist actually is Jesus—His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity! Jesus is the Holy of Holies; He is God, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. Though it may sound banal, or trivial, or even a cliché, there is a real truism behind this one liner: “You become what you eat!” Bad eating habits can produce health problems; good eating habits can contribute to health and longevity. In a parallel but real sense when we nourish our souls with the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus with faith, devotion, fervor and love, then we start to think like Jesus, feel like Jesus, act like Jesus, become like Jesus until we can say with Saint Paul: “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” (Gal. 2:20)

9. OPEN AND DOCILE TO THE HOLY SPIRIT. Father Jacques Philippe wrote a short masterpiece on this topic with the title “In the School of the Holy Spirit.” In this short but inspiring book, Father Jacques constantly reminds his readers that holiness essentially depends on one basic attitude, action, and plan of life: being docile to the Holy Spirit and His heavenly inspirations. The Consoler, Counselor, Interior Master, the Paraclete, the Sweet Guest of the Soul, the Holy Spirit speaks gently but insistently to pure, humble, and docile souls guiding them in the proper course of action that leads to holiness of life, that leads us to become the saints that we are all called and destined to become. Saint Paul reminds us: “We do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Holy Spirit intercedes for us with ineffable groans so that we can call out Abba, Father.” (Rom. 8:15, 26) It is precisely for this reason that Pope Saint John XXIII stated: “The saints are the masterpieces of the Holy Spirit.”

10. MARY AND THE SAINTS. Our Lady, Mary most holy, is the Queen of Angels, the Queen of Virgins, the Queen of Confessors, the Queen of Martyrs, the Queen and beauty of Carmel, the Queen of the most Holy Rosary, and finally Mary is Queen of all of the Angels and Saints. After he died, Saint Dominic Savio appeared bathed in heavenly glory to Saint John Bosco and asked the holy priest to guess what gave Dominic the greatest joy in his short life on earth (he died at 14 years and 11 months). It was precisely this: his great love for, as well as confidence in the Blessed Virgin Mary. Saint Dominic ended this encounter with Saint John Bosco by exhorting him to spread devotion to Mary to the greatest extent possible. Mary inspires the saints to pray fervently. Mary inspires the saints to return to God after they sin. Mary encourages the saints to love Jesus with their whole being. Mary’s presence helps the saints to avoid moral dangers. Mary’s maternal and loving presence helps the saints to move from desolation to consolation. For that reason, the saints cry out to Mary in these words: “Hail Holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope.”

Our final prayer and hope is that all of you will become saints and great saints. Our hope and prayer is that all of you will one day be a very precious, resplendent and glorious jewel in the crown of Mary and contemplate and praise the Blessed Trinity for all eternity. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us so that we can attain the grace to truly become the saint that God has destined us to become for all eternity.
 

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

Tuesday of the Third Week of Advent

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

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15th   Mt. 21: 28-32   “A man had two sons.”

• This is the parable of the two sons. The father asked each one to go out and work in the vineyard. The first son said, “I will not,” but afterwards he changed his mind and went. The second son said, “Yes, sir,” but did not go. Which of the two did the will of the father?
• Which one are we when it comes to obeying the Will of God expressed in the teachings of the Church and the changing circumstances of our daily lives?
• As we pray with the powerful meditation by Fr. Ed Broom, let us keep the wisdom of Saint John of the Cross in mind: “Live in the world as if only God and your soul were in it; then your heart will never be made captive by any earthly thing.”

WAYS THAT CHRISTMAS SPEAKS TO US… by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

Rushing frenetically, buying and consuming, having and possessing, eating and enjoying, singing and feasting, wining and dining—all of these words characterize what we call The Christmas Season. Not that all of the above are wrong, however, it is all too easy to leap over the primary Reason for the Season!

THE REASON FOR THE SEASON is not so much things that can be bought, given and possessed. Rather, the real reason for the season is a Person. It is His Birthday that we celebrate and the purpose for His coming. That Person is the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity—JESUS!!! His name signifies His purpose for coming into this world.

“JESUS” MEANS SAVIOR! The Archangel Gabriel announced to Mary that the name of the Child she would conceive would be Jesus. Why? Because He would save the people from their sins. The primary purpose for the coming of Jesus was to save the world at large and all of us individually from the reality of sin, which leads to eternal death and total ruin.

 AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE.  For this reason, we should all cultivate an attitude of gratitude towards Jesus, Mary, and Good Saint Joseph. With great faith and trust we have a firm hope that Heaven will one day be ours for all eternity! With hearts overflowing with love, joy, and gratitude, we thank the Lord Jesus for coming into the world to save us. We thank the Blessed Virgin Mary for accepting the will of God to bring Jesus the Savior into the world! We thank Good Saint Joseph for being the protector and provider for Mary and the child Jesus.

In this meditation/contemplation for Christmas and the Christmas Season we would like to present some of the key persons, places, circumstances and things with a Symbolic Interpretation for the purpose and intention of fostering within your heart a greater love and gratitude for the immense love that Jesus, the Savior in the arms of Mary, and good Saint Joseph have for you now and always!

SYMBOLIC INTERPRETATION OF THE CHRISTMAS EVENT

1. THE SHEPHERDS. One of the most common images in all of Sacred Scripture is that of the shepherd, the sheep, the pastures, and the enemies that surround both the sheep and the shepherd. What can we learn from the shepherds? Much indeed! Silence, simplicity, steadfastness, serenity, security in God. You might call it the 5 S’s. Jesus will eventually become the Good Shepherd of the flock (Jn. 10: 1-21).

• Meditation: We too are called to be good shepherds to the sheep of our flock! The secret? Very simply, for us to be good shepherds to our sheep, we must be good sheep of the Good Shepherd, Jesus the Lord!

2. ANGELS. The word Angel from Greek actually means Messenger. The angels sing out with joy: “Glory to God in the highest and peace to people of good will.” (Lk. 2:14)

• Meditation: We are called to be like angels in the sense that we are called to announce the Good News of Salvation in Jesus the Lord by our words and example.

3. JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM. Long, perilous, cold, windy, exhausting and draining—all of these are just a few words that describe the long journey from Nazareth to the city of Bethlehem that Joseph and Mary undertook under obedience to the law decreed by Caesar. Imagine and contemplate a young woman nine months’ pregnant traveling miles upon miles on a donkey!

• Meditation: We are pilgrim-people traveling on a journey to our eternal homeland, which is heaven. To arrive demands on our part hard work—blood, sweat and tears, strength and courage, stamina and perseverance. However, of greatest importance in our travel and journey to heaven is the dire need to stay close to Jesus, Mary and Saint Joseph the whole way until entrance into heaven is a reality.

4. THE INN-KEEPERS AND THEIR NO!!! When we travel and arrive at our final destination, we hope to receive a warm and loving greeting from relatives and friends. This is common courtesy! Saint Joseph, Mary and the Baby Jesus within her womb received nothing of the sort, to say the least! Quite the contrary: they met with rejection! Among the saddest words in the Infancy Narratives are: “There was no place for Him in the Inn!” The reasons for the rejection are open for speculation. Possibly the Inn-keepers did not want poor people entering who might not be able pay the bill. Perhaps the Inn-keepers, seeing Mary with child, feared the commotion of giving birth and a squalling baby. Or the Inn-keepers had their doors open to relatives only—which Joseph, Mary and Jesus were not!

• Meditation: The rejection of the Inn-keepers has a deeper symbolic meaning: the reality of committing mortal sin. Whenever we are guilty of commission of a mortal sin, then in all truth we reject Jesus from the interior Inn of our hearts. May God save us from the reality of mortal sin, and if we do fall, may we repent through penance and the Sacrament of Confession as soon as possible!

5. THE CAVE / STABLE OF BETHLEHEM. Damp, cold, foul-smelling, hard, dim and dark—these provide a limited description of the humble cave of Bethlehem.

• Meditation: The cave/stable of Bethlehem can symbolize the human heart and its response to the immense love of God. One of the greatest sufferings of the Heart of the Infant Lord Jesus is the widespread and pervasive presence of indifference and coldness towards His Infinite love. Too many people are neither hot nor cold, but lukewarm. As to these, God wants to spit them out of His mouth. “So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” (Rev. 3:16) For this reason, Jesus said: “I have come to cast fire on the earth and I am not at peace until that fire be enkindled.” May our hearts become flaming conflagrations of love for Jesus and all that He has done for us! May Our Lady help us!

6. THE MAGI: THE WISEMEN. Traditionally the Church has believed that there were three Magi or Wise-men from the East who traveled following the star. Much can be said of these three Kings.

• Meditation: We will offer one simple point for reflection: their desire to encounter God!!! May all of us have an ardent desire to encounter God often and powerfully in our daily lives! Ways to encounter God are many. Here are a few: prayer, meditation, contemplation, spiritual-reading, the Sacraments—especially Mass and Holy Communion, visits to the Blessed Sacrament, Confession, Spiritual Direction, service to the poor, and last but not least, and perhaps the most challenging—willing and cheerful service to those with whom we live every day. May the example of the wise-men make us more wise in cultivating a daily pursuit and longing to encounter God in our everyday lives. May this verse from one of the Psalms motivate us: “As the deer yearns for the running streams, so my souls yearns for you, O God.” (Ps. 42:1)

7. THE STAR. It was by means of the star that the Magi eventually encountered the Holy Family—Jesus in the arms of Mary, with Saint Joseph at their side. This star led the Magi to Jesus, the Son of God made man.

• Meditation: God has placed many “stars” in the firmament of our personal universe, for God loves and provides for each one of us uniquely! Those persons, places, and events that God in His loving and divine Providence has placed in our path to lead us to Him. For these stars, we should be eternally grateful! Rewind the film of your life and you will become aware of the many stars that God placed in your path to draw you away from evil, prevent you from falling into a deep moral pit, help you to persevere in the challenging and sometimes grueling task of following the Lord in all His commands for your eternal salvation and growth in holiness! Examine your life and point out the stars in the firmament of your own personal universe and render abundant thanks for them to the Lord and His Holy Mother!  

8. THREE GIFTS TO JESUS FROM THE MAGI: GOLD, FRANKINCENSE, AND MYRRH. Advent is a time when we should think about what we can give Jesus as a special gift for Christmas. The Magi offered Jesus three special gifts charged with deep symbolism.

GOLD—This Gift is given to Jesus as King. Jesus rejoices in generosity from the heart.

• Meditation: Let us give to Jesus, but through others, our almsgiving with a truly generous heart. Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He wants to reign in the world, but first He wants to reign in our hearts.

FRANKINCENSE—This Gift symbolizes Jesus as God. Our incense rises as a fragrant aroma to God.

• Meditation: Let us increase and intensify our personal prayer life. Let us plumb the depths of the Love of God for us and our response to His love through meditation, contemplation, and deep prayer!

MYRH—This Gift symbolizes the Humanity of Jesus destined to suffer and die on the cross for the eternal salvation of souls.

• Meditation: Let us offer sacrifices to Jesus for the conversion of sinners and the salvation of souls, as Our Lady of Fatima asked the children and all of us to do.

In conclusion, Gold for the Royalty of Jesus the King; Incense for Prayer to Jesus who is truly God; and Myrrh for the Humanity of Jesus who died on the cross to give us an abundance of life here and eternal life to come!

9. KING HEROD. This wicked King—insecure, jealous and envious, bitter and hateful— hatched a plan to secure His Kingship and power over others. The plan was nothing other than to kill all the baby boys two years and younger, in and around the environs of Bethlehem! Most specifically, Herod had Jesus in mind. For Jesus was the King that the Magi brought to Herod’s attention. Therefore, this wicked King Herod sent his henchmen to brutally massacre these innocent children, ripping them from their mother’s arms, and slaughtering them in their mother’s presence. These we call the Holy Innocents!

• Meditation: Herod represents the whole ugly, diabolic reality of ABORTION—the killing, the massacre of innocent unborn babies. Since the legalization of Abortion, Roe Vs Wade Supreme Court decision 1973, close to 60 million babies have been murdered! As Catholics we are called to be Pro-Life Warriors! Which means we are to protect human life from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death. Human life comes from God—the origin, author, and sustainer of all life. Human life starts at the very moment of conception and has more value than the whole created universe, according to Aquinas. 

10. SAINT JOSEPH. It is very difficult to render sufficient homage and honor to Glorious Saint Joseph, who is the greatest of all of the saints. Why? Because of his sublime vocation and office. Saint Joseph was the spouse of Mary, Mother of God, as well as the earthly Father of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

• Meditation: Just one note of praise for the Glorious Saint Joseph taken from the great Saint Teresa of Avila. She named Glorious Saint Joseph, The Master of the Interior Life. This title means that he is the Master of prayer. In His human nature, Jesus grew in age, grace and knowledge before God and man. It was Saint Joseph who taught Jesus how to use human words to pray: Abba Father, Good Shepherd, Lord all good and merciful—words that Saint Joseph and Mary taught the Child Jesus on the pathway of prayer. May Good Saint Joseph grant us the desire and good will to grow in our own personal prayer life!

11. THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. Words cannot explain the greatness of Mary, the Mother of God. Poetic and Mystical names for Mary abound: Tower of David, Tower of Ivory, Gate of Heaven, Health of the Sick, Queen of Angels, Queen of Saints, Queen of Heaven and earth, Queen of all hearts, Star of the Morning, Star of the Sea (Stella Maris), and many, many others are the glorious titles for Mary. However, the greatest of all titles for the Blessed Virgin Mary, and especially related to Christmas, is that of MARY, THE MOTHER OF GOD!!!

• Meditation: We will lay one simple idea on your hearts, taken from Saint Augustine: “If we were to gather all the love, of all the mothers, of all times and places, the love of Mary, the Mother of God, for you and me is far greater!” This thought should fill you with the greatest peace, security, and joy! However, it should also motivate you to love Mary as your Mother all the more, and bring many others to love Mary as their Mother. Our Lady said to Saint Juan Diego: “Do not worry! Am I not your Mother? I have you in the crossing of my arms, in my shadow, and in the fold of my apron.” (Our Lady of Guadalupe to Saint Juan Diego, Dec. 12, 1531)

12. JESUS, OUR LORD, GOD, AND SAVIOR. Of course the very center and focus of Christmas is the Person of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, born of the Virgen Mary in Bethlehem. We will offer one short but profound reflection on Jesus born in Bethlehem. The word Bethlehem means House of Bread. Later on during the course of His Public Ministry, in the synagogue of Capernaum, Jesus delivered one of His most powerful discourses called The Bread of Life discourse. The essence of His discourse can be summarized in these few words in His preaching: “I am the Bread of Life come down from Heaven. Whoever eats my Body and drinks my Blood will have everlasting life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” How appropriate! Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the House of Bread and later on in His preaching, He would clearly teach that to attain eternal life it is essential to nourish our souls on The Bread of Life – His body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity in Holy Communion.

• Meditation: Let us resolve that from this day forward, we will receive this greatest of all gifts by participating fully, actively, consciously and worthily during Mass and our reception of Jesus, truly present in Holy Communion. Therefore, one of the greatest Gifts we can offer Jesus on Christmas, in the Christmas Season, and always is to attend the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and receive Holy Communion, the Bread of Life with faith, humility, devotion and love. If done, the Kingdom of God is within us!

In conclusion, let us lift our heart, mind, body, and soul and offer a hymn of praise and thanksgiving to Jesus, who came into this world through the Yes of Mary in order to save us, and bring us one day to our eternal rest, the Home of our Eternal Father in Heaven!!!

 

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

Memorial of Saint John of the Cross, priest and doctor of the Church

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

MONDAY, DECEMBER 14th   Mt. 21: 23-27   “Jesus said to them in reply, ‘I shall ask you one question, and if you answer it for me, then I shall tell you by what authority I do these things. Where was John’s baptism from? Was it of heavenly or of human origin?’”

• We are preparing ourselves to love and adore Jesus, our new-born Savior, in the arms of Mary on Christmas. But then we are called to become warriors for Christ, like John the Baptist, defending the Way, the Truth, and the Life that Jesus brings to the world. And our world was never more in need of valiant warriors for Christ willing to defend the Truth than today, when the very fabric of the family and society is coming unraveled.  
• Yesterday’s Gospel was about John the Baptist and his role as precursor, giving testimony to the Light so that all might believe. Today, let us look more closely at the life of this warrior who became a martyr for the Truth.

SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST POINTS THE WAY TO CHRIST; A GLORIOUS EXAMPLE WORTHY OF IMITATION!!! By Father Ed Broom, OMV

“He must increase, and I must decrease.” Then: “I am the voice crying out in the desert: ‘Prepare the way for the Lord.’” Again: “I am not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Great Prophet.” Finally: “I am not even worthy to unfasten his sandal-straps.” All of these expressions resound from the voice and heart of the same person: SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST! Speaking of this person, Jesus exalts him to a sublime degree: “Of all men born of women, none is greater than John the Baptist.”

The lessons that the great Saint John the Baptist can teach us are many. These lessons in virtue can easily motivate all of us, in this precise moment, to abandon a life of sin or mediocrity and pursue a life of heroic virtue, to pursue a life of great holiness. Chapter V of the Dogmatic Constitution of Vatican II Lumen Gentium commands us to holiness of life. This chapter is the Universal Call to Holiness. Jesus stated it very succinctly and unequivocally: “Be holy as your heavenly Father is holy.” (Mt. 5: 48)

Therefore, let us learn from the person of the great Saint John the Baptist to abandon a life of tepidity, lukewarmness, and apathy and allow the fire of the Holy Spirit, and the example and prayers of Saint John the Baptist, to ignite an ardent flame within us.

1. MARY AND SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST. There is an intimate connection and bond of holiness between Mary and Saint John the Baptist. While he was still in the womb of his mother, Saint Elizabeth, Mary visited John. Her word, and the silent presence of Jesus in her womb, caused John the Baptist to leap in the womb of his mother and be filled with the Holy Spirit, resulting in his sanctification. Our Lady’s presence and word can also sanctify each and every one of us.

2. THE PRO-LIFE SAINT. In a world characterized by a loss of respect for life from the moment of conception until natural death, the parents of John welcomed him even in their old age. Beyond the normal age of child-bearing, Elizabeth said YES to life and brought forth Saint John the Baptist. Every child in the womb is precious and a true gift from God, endowed with a special mission.

3. DESERT-EXPERIENCE. Saint John the Baptist did not launch himself into a flurry of activity right away, nor did Jesus! Rather, like Jesus, John spent long years in preparation. Jesus spent His formative years in the family of Nazareth. According to tradition, Saint John the Baptist spent long years in the desert preparing himself for his great mission. He was called to prepare the way of the Lord, but he first had to prepare himself. How important the lesson of the Baptist for us? To be successful Apostles, we must prepare ourselves by means of prayer, penance, and self-discipline. The more exact and demanding the preparation, the more abundant the apostolic fruits!

4. SILENCE. In the desert, far distant from the noise, clatter and cacophony of strident protests, the Baptist settled in silence which is propitious for listening attentively to the Word of God. What a powerful lesson! Pope Benedict XVI commented to seminarians in New York how difficult it is today to hear the voice of the Lord because of the reality of being bombarded by so many alien noises. May Saint John the Baptist help us to cherish silence. “Speak, O Lord, for your servant is listening.” (1 Sam 3:10)

5. PENANCE. To soar to the heights in the spiritual life, like an eagle, we need two wings: the wings of prayer and penance. In a world imbued with hedonism, sensuality, gluttony, drinking bouts, and the philosophy of pleasure, the lifestyle of the Baptist is a countersign and very counter-cultural! No elegant, gourmet dining for the Baptist! Quite the contrary, his nourishment was locusts and wild honey, being nourished from God’s gratuitous gifts of nature.

6. A SIMPLE, FRUGAL LIFE-STYLE. How much time, energy, and money are wasted on luxurious buying and having related to wardrobes. Saint John the Baptist challenges us to look deeply into our own buying and having with respect to our wardrobe and dress! How did the Baptist dress? Quite simply: he donned a camel hair garment and wore a leather belt around his waist. He had no closet to store extra clothing! Let’s examine our buying sprees and wardrobe from the perspective of the Baptist.

7. HIS PREACHING STYLE AND METHOD. The preaching style of the Baptist and his message were simple, direct and to the point. He did not mince words, nor waste words. The very essence of his preaching could be summarized in one simple word: CONVERSION!!! Very similar to the first preaching of Jesus: “Be converted; the Kingdom of God is at hand.” (Mk. 1:15)

8. HIS DISCIPLES. A very interesting note would be that of his close disciples; who were they? Actually, some of the Apostles that Jesus chose were already being formed and taught by Saint John the Baptist. Among these were Saint John the Evangelist, as well as Saint Andrew. John the Baptist pointed to Jesus, “The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” Then Saint Andrew and Saint John the Evangelist left the Baptist to follow Jesus. (Jn. 1:36-38 ) What profound humility in the Baptist, allowing his disciples and friends to leave him so that they could follow in the company of Jesus! The Baptist was a mere sign—always paving the way and pointing to Jesus! What an example for us!

9. HIS MISSION. Saint John the Baptist had no identity-crisis. He knew with utmost clarity who he was, where he was called to be, and exactly what his mission entailed. Baptisms! The latter part of his life, he was called to the Jordan River where he would summon the people to a life of conversion and then he would baptize them. A culminating moment in his life is when Jesus enters the scene at the Jordan River and asks to be baptized by John the Baptist. Despite the feeling of his unworthiness, the Baptist humbly submits to the request of Jesus and baptizes the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. In this moment the profound mystery of the Blessed Trinity becomes manifest. The voice of God the Father is heard, Jesus enters into the waters thereby sanctifying all future waters that would be used to baptize, and the Holy Spirit becomes manifest in the presence of the Dove.

10. HIS GLORIOUS GRAND FINALE!  The Glorious Grand Finale of the life of SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST was his glorious death. He was martyred. The primary reason for the glorious death of Saint John the Baptist was his courage in denouncing publicly the adulterous, incestuous, and scandalous relations of King Herod. The cowardly and wicked king had actually taken the wife of his brother, Philip, and made her his own. The Kingdom was muted, but not John the Baptist. He raised a clarion voice of denunciation: “It is not right for you to live with her!” (Mt. 14:4) John was incarcerated. Then on the occasion of the birthday of the wicked King and a lascivious dance, the King sent executioners to the prison and decapitated Saint John the Baptist. This great saint died to defend the indissoluble character of Holy Matrimony and the evil of divorce and adultery. He lost his physical life but gained Heaven for all eternity!

The conception, the upbringing and preparation, the life and the glorious death of Saint John the Baptist can most splendidly serve as a model for all of us who ardently yearn for a life of authentic holiness. Among the admirable virtues that Saint John the Baptist preached and lived are virtues that we should most ardently desire to live out: prayer, penance, silence, humility, detachment, mission, love for Jesus, love for the truth, and an undaunted courage to face evil and deceit with a willingness to die for the Truth. Great and Glorious Saint John the Baptist, pray for us!

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