Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

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

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8th   Lk. 1:26-38   Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception   The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.” Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”

• Some thoughts for our consideration and prayer. Mary is the handmaid or servant of the Lord. She says Yes to becoming the Mother of God. In doing so, she accepts all that God wills for herself and her Son without knowing all that Yes will entail. Her Yes is total and unconditional.
• God is asking each one of us for our total and unconditional YES to all that He wills for us in our lives! A breathing in our heart I will it, Lord is all it takes to submit our will to His. This is the freedom of the Sons and Daughters of God – leaving everything in His hands, especially when He takes us to the cross, as with our Mother Mary before us!
• Today’s meditation takes us back to two other persons who said Yes to all that God willed for them. To truly understand Mary, we need to know something about her parents, and the incredible gift God gave them sealed by the cross.

UNDERESTIMATED SAINTS! MARY’S PARENTS! By Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

Jesus said: “By their fruit you will know them. A good tree brings forth good fruit, but a bad tree brings forth bad fruit.” (Mt. 7:16-17) These words of the Greatest Master and Teacher of the world can most appropriately be applied to Jesus’ two grandparents, the mother and father of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Their names have traditionally been known to be SAINT JOACHIM (father of Mary) and SAINT ANN (mother of Mary).

In our humble work of promoting a knowledge, love, and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, this treatise would be incomplete if nothing were mentioned about the parents of Mary, the Grandparents of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Both Saint Joachim and Saint Ann merit the highest honor and respect!

WHY THE GREATNESS OF SAINT JOACHIM AND SAINT ANN?  I honestly believe that given the high estate of their daughter, the Blessed Virgin Mary, right reason and logic point to the fact that Saint Joachim and Saint Ann deserve our study—our knowledge of them, our respect for them, our prayers to them, as well as our trust in the power of their intercession in our daily lives. Indeed, they are underestimated and all too often unknown by many Catholics!

SALIENT AND IMPORTANT POINTS FOR OUR REFLECTION ON SAINT JOACHIM AND SAINT ANN. There is no actual Biblical data on Saint Joachim and Saint Ann. Nonetheless, tradition points out that this husband and wife were the vessels from which God sent into the world the greatest woman ever to be born and ever to live, who would become the Mother of God and the Queen of Heaven and earth! From this woman, the fruit of the love between Saint Joachim and Saint Ann, would be born Jesus, our Lord God and Savior. For these reasons, we highlight the great importance of this couple.

THE SUFFERING OF SAINT JOACHIM AND SAINT ANN.  This was their greatest suffering. Like like Abram and Sarai, like Hannah, like Saint Elizabeth and Zechariah—Saint Joachim and Saint Ann, despite their great desire and longing, were never able to have children. Furthermore, according to tradition, by now Ann, like Elizabeth, was beyond the normal child bearing age. This was a source of excruciating suffering for Joachim and Ann, given that they both had really wanted children.

THEIR GENEROSITY.  Despite their longing and suffering in not having a child, Saint Joachim and Saint Ann had very generous hearts. They were a devout Jewish couple, a very prayerful couple, and a humble couple. How did this unfold? From the economic means they had for themselves, they preferred to give most of it away. In other words, they were really detached from material things—especially money and its dangers—as they had their hearts set on God. As Jesus would say later on in His teachings that we read in the Sermon on the Mount: “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and everything else will be given to you be besides.” (Mt. 6:33) Therefore, Saint Joachim and Saint Ann gave one third of their means to the poor; another third, they gave to the Temple and its upkeep; and they kept only a third for themselves. Talk about generosity in tithing! Most people who tithe, consider themselves generous when they give ten percent of their earnings to the poor or to the Church. In the case of Saint Joachim and Saint Ann, they gave away two thirds, or if you like 66% of their means!!!

GOD CANNOT BE OUTDONE IN GENEROSITY.  How true the saying: “God cannot be outdone in generosity.” God intervened in a most powerful way in response to the prayerful, humble, and generous hearts of Saint Joachim and Saint Ann. In seemingly impossible circumstances, God blessed them with a child! It would be a little girl. The little girl’s name would be MARY! However, this would not be an ordinary little girl. This would be the greatest little girl in the history of the world. Because of who she was and whom she would bring into the world, all humanity would be radically transformed.

SAINT ANN AND THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION.  One of the reasons why we maintain that Saint Ann and Saint Joachim are greatly underestimated is due to what we will say now! In the womb of Saint Ann and through the seed of Saint Joachim, God performed one of the greatest miracles in the history of the world. This miracle is called the IMMACULATE CONCEPTION. Yes, this took place in the womb of Saint Ann! That is to say, at the moment Saint Ann conceived a little girl in her womb—whom Saint Anne and Saint Joachim would name MARY—God intervened with what is called the IMMACULATE CONCEPTION.

MEANING OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION?  In the very moment of the conception of Mary in Saint Ann’s womb, God intervened with His all-holy Presence and preserved Mary from the stain of Original Sin. Yes! From the very moment of Mary’s conception she was preserved from Original Sin. To be perfectly clear, the stain of original sin which taints all the rest of humanity, never touched Mary most holy! For that reason, the English poet, Wordsworth, lauded Mary in these words: “She is our tainted nature’s solitary boast!” We were all conceived in sin, the sin of Adam and Eve, the Original Sin. Mary was preserved from this Original Sin, this Original stain, this Original moral sickness, this Original disaster! However, this must be highlighted: it was through Saint Ann and Saint Joachim conceiving a child that this extraordinary privilege of the Immaculate Conception could be given by God to the child they conceived. Therefore, we should have the greatest reverence, admiration, honor, and respect for Saint Anne and Saint Joachim, and for the womb of Saint Ann that carried Mary, the Immaculate Conception, who would become the Mother of God!

There is still much that can be harvested from this abundant and rich mystery of the persons of Saint Joachim and Saint Ann. Here are some.

1. LITURGICAL FEAST DAY:  The Catholic Church celebrates the Feast Day of Saint Joachim and Saint Ann together every year on July 26th. Try to remember this date and attend Mass and receive Holy Communion to honor these chosen Saints who were the parents of Mary, the Immaculate Conception!

2. PATIENCE.  This holy couple teaches us the virtue of patience. They waited many years and finally God blessed them with the greatest gift—a child. Moreover, this child would be the Mother of God!

3. GENEROSITY.  Where did their generosity come from? They were totally detached from all except God. So they could freely give two-thirds of what they had to the poor and to the Temple.

4. PRAYERFUL.  They prayed, and God was pleased with their prayers due to their humility, patience, generosity, purity, and great love for God and His mysterious but wise and Providential plans. May we learn to pray like Saint Joachim and Saint Ann. May we ask for their prayers to help us to pray better!

5. IMMACULATE CONCEPTION.  This is one of the chief Solemnities that the Church celebrates every year on December 8th and it came about through the persons of Saint Joachim and Saint Ann.

6. PATRON OF PARENTS.  Of course, as said earlier, “A good tree brings forth good fruit.” Saint Joachim and Saint Ann raised the greatest and most holy girl in the world. Therefore, it must be said that they can be the Patrons of Parents who have to struggle so hard to raise their children in the love of God and fear of the Lord, due to the many worldly distractions and temptations pulling their children away from God. Pray earnestly and fervently to Saint Joachim and Saint Ann to guide you and to help guard and protect your children from the evils that surround them.

7. PATRON OF GRANDPARENTS.  We should not overlook the fact that Jesus indeed did have two Grandparents, and they were Saint Joachim and Saint Ann. Try to imagine Saint Joachim and Saint Ann holding their grandchild, the little Baby Jesus, tenderly in their loving arms. How much Saint Joachim and Saint Ann loved their daughter Mary, and their Grandson, the Lord Jesus. They can certainly help grandparents, who beseech their intercession, to carry out their noble mission in the sanctification of the family.

8. PATRON OF SPOUSES.  Even though this might be obvious, it still should be mentioned: Saint Joachim and Saint Ann formed an exemplary marriage; they were an excellent married couple. They were faithful. They lived out fully the marriage promises and commitment: “Faithfulness in good times and in bad, in health and in sickness, in riches and in poverty, until death do they part.” Hopefully they will serve as a model for married couples in the realm of promising to be faithful and then living it out!

9. INSTRUMENTS IN THE ECONOMY OF SALVATION.  Indeed, it must be stated that it was through Saint Joachim and Saint Ann that the history of the salvation of the entire world had its beginning. They brought forth Mary, the Mother of God; and their daughter Mary gave us Jesus, the Savior of all humanity! For this reason, we have both Saint Joachim and Saint Ann to thank for bringing Mary, the Immaculate Conception, into the world.

10. THE OFFERING AND PRESENTATION OF MARY AS A GIFT TO GOD.  After Saint Anne conceived and gave birth to their little child Mary, according to Tradition, Saint Joachim and Saint Anne presented their child at an early age to be brought up in the Temple in thanksgiving to God! The Church celebrates the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary every year on November 21st. Thus was Mary prepared for her sublime mission to become the Mother of God, the Mother of the Church, and the Mother of each and every one of us!

In conclusion, Saint Joachim and Saint Ann are indeed great saints. Unfortunately, they are unknown by all too many. Their greatness in the economy of salvation can barely be measured.

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

Memorial of Saint Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

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

MONDAY, DECEMBER 7^th   Lk. 5:17-26   “Astonishment seized them all and they glorified God, and, struck with awe, they said, ‘We have seen incredible things today.’”

• Today Jesus heals a man of his paralysis. In front of everyone, the man immediately stands up, picks up what he was lying on, and heads for home, glorifying God. And they are struck with awe.
• Remember, Jesus has already forgiven the man’s sins. Now Jesus asks them, “Which is greater to say ‘Your sins are forgiven?’ or ‘Rise and walk?’”
• Let us turn the question around. Which is greater for us to hear, “Your sins are forgiven”… “This is my Body” and “This is my Blood”—Jesus Mercy for the sinner and His Real Presence among us, the means of our growth in virtue and our eternal salvation?
• Or the equivalent of “Rise and walk” meaning that today’s problems and sufferings are gone, only to be replaced by new problems and sufferings tomorrow? Don’t think that all the problems in that man’s life were solved because he could walk!
• A man once asked Padre Pio to cure his blindness and restore his sight. The saint said he could do that, but if the man’s sight was restored, he would lose his soul for all eternity! The man chose to remain blind.
• Because of original sin, everything material in our life, including our body, is tending toward decay and death. While everything spiritual in our life – our soul, grace, and virtue have the potential to grow from glory to glory until we die and are judged.
• Maybe this is the time when we are ready to simplify our lives, get rid of all the excess material things that clutter our homes and our minds, and truly relish and grow in the spiritual riches of our faith and share them with others. This article can help us!

CHRISTMAS IS A TIME OF GIVING AND LOVING by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

The Advent Season that culminates in Christmas, the birth of Jesus, Our Lord and Savior, is a time of giving and loving. Actually, the Gift of Gifts—the Gift of all Gifts is Jesus Himself. With a limitless love, care and concern for all of humanity, and for each and every one of us individually, God the Father gave Jesus to us as the Gift beyond all price.

Due to the sin of our first parents, Adam and Eve, the Original Sin, the gates of Heaven were slammed and locked shut for all of humanity until God intervened in a most powerful, but also a most humble, manner. God, in the Person of Jesus, became man, so as to transform us into Sons and Daughters of God.

Never in a million years could we have reasoned it out and come to the conclusion that God would decide to save us by means of the Incarnation. Nobody could have ever imagined God becoming man in the Incarnation through the consent of the Virgin Mary. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” Jesus became one of us in all ways with the exception of sin. Jesus indeed is the Way, the Truth and the Life who shows us the way to the Father in Heaven.

Therefore, let us manifest our gratitude towards our all-good and generous God by the way we treat others. Jesus said:  “Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers that you do unto me.” (Mt. 25:40) Also, our charitable expression of love must be manifest first towards our family members—indeed, charity begins at home.

Perhaps the traditional manner of giving material gifts to our relatives and friends can be supplanted by spiritual gifts. In a word, instead of giving many material gifts and receiving many material gifts, maybe we can offer gifts of a spiritual nature.

Call to mind the abject poverty that characterized the birth of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Cold, damp, musty, dark, cobwebs, the foul stench of animals and animal dung, hard rocks and straw—all these are words that describe to a limited degree the place where Jesus was born: the Stable of Bethlehem. In a real sense, our souls often reflect the same atmosphere. We are at times cold, dirty, musty, hard of heart, and emit the foul stench of sin. But it was precisely for that reason that Jesus came into the world—to save us from sin and all that is related to sin. The name “Jesus” means Savior!

Therefore, this being the case, what are some gifts that we can offer to Jesus and to our relatives and friends this Christmas?

First, why not offer to the Lord Jesus a Good Confession? Why not make an excellent examination of conscience, beg for true sorrow and a firm purpose to change, and confess your sins to the priest who represents Christ, the Divine Physician? Three qualities of a good confession: be transparent, be humble, and be obedient! Then be gone! A good Sacramental Confession is the best way to clean out the dirty stable of our soul so that Jesus can be born with great joy.

Second, reconciliation with family members. All too often, due to past wounds, family members have never really practiced mercy by forgiving from the heart hurtful offenses. Consequently, there exists a somewhat tense atmosphere at home. Sarcastic and cutting words or expressions, sardonic smiles, gossip and back-biting, and at times an icy-coldness—all are symptoms of a lack of true and total forgiveness. If we want God to forgive us, then we must forgive our brothers and sisters who have hurt us. There is no clearer expression of this than in the Our Father: “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us….”

Third, prepare, make and give a Spiritual Bouquet. If you have never been exposed to the term, as well as the gift, of a Spiritual Bouquet, this merits a brief explanation. The bride places at the feet of the Blessed Mother a bouquet of roses so as to bless her marriage. The Spiritual Bouquet is essentially roses that are of a purely spiritual nature. Spiritually, decide what you are willing to do and to offer as your Spiritual Bouquet of roses.

Fourth, we present to you a model for composing your own Spiritual Bouquet: “I offer these spiritual gifts for your sanctification and salvation.”
1. The recitation of the Holy Rosary ten times.
2. The Chaplet of Divine Mercy fifteen times.
3. Short prayers (aspirations) one hundred in total.
4. Sacrifices/acts of mortification or self-denial seven in total.
5. Holy Mass offered in the Church for you and your intentions —five times.
6. Holy Communions offered for you—five times.
7. The Stations/ Way of the Cross prayed for you—four times.

The above is a mere model or example of what a Spiritual Bouquet might look like. All of the gifts are of a spiritual nature. They can be of immense value in helping others on the Highway to holiness and to Heaven.

Fifth, a beautiful image or painting of Divine Mercy. Instead of purchasing some secular item, why not bestow as a gift the image of Divine Mercy. Three of the most prominent images that adorn Catholic homes today are that of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the image of Divine Mercy. Jesus promised extraordinary blessings upon those who honor, venerate, and even enthrone this beautiful image. By contemplating this image, in a mysterious and powerfully mystical way, you are drawn into the most important attribute of the Heart of Jesus, His Infinite Mercy.

Sixth, CHRISTMAS MASS AND HOLY COMMUNION—KEY TO FAMILY UNITY AND HARMONY. It must be said that some Catholics will celebrate Christmas paying attention to all of the external wrappings, while remaining oblivious to, and therefore excluding, the most important aspect of Christmas: The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass! Christ was born 2000 years ago in Bethlehem—the House of Bread. The prolongation of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem is Jesus being born in the hands of the priest in the moment of consecration and in our hearts in the moment of Holy Communion!

Seventh, may the whole family, well-confessed, and with purity of heart, mind and soul, approach the Eucharistic banquet and receive the Child Jesus into their hearts in Holy Communion. If done, this can create great peace and harmony within the family. Jesus is Emmanuel—God with us; Jesus is also titled “The Prince of Peace”! As St. Paul reminds us: “Though we are many, we form one bread and one body in the Lord.” (1 Cor.10:17)

Eighth, cultivate the “Apostolate of Kindness”. One of the most precious gifts that family members can give to each other for Christmas and during the Christmas Season, is to cultivate a perennial habit of what we might call “The Apostolate of Kindness.” (Read the classic text on Kindness by Fr. Lovasik). Kindness is one of those social virtues that condiments life, that salts and seasons and enlivens human social dealings. Without it, family life can really become an intense battle. In all aspects of our family and social dealings may they be condimented by the salt and seasoning of kindness. A winning smile, gentle and encouraging words, a word or two of comfort and support, a helping hand to the faltering, an attentive and listening ear—all are concrete manifestations of kindness. What a splendid and superb Christmas day and Christmas Season would result from an overall milieu and practice of kindness. Indeed, kindness is a priceless gift! Let us resolve to make a habit of kindness!

Ninth, a good Catholic prayer-book. One of the gifts that I most cherished as a child when I made my First Communion was the First Communion Catholic prayer-book. If you do not know how to pray, you can go to the Psalms in the Old Testament and pray a Psalm every night, and learn how to pray by the Word of God. However, another way is to purchase a good Catholic Prayer-book and read each night one or several of the beautiful prayers presented in the book. In time try to memorize some of them. These spiritual gifts that are designed to cultivate the soul are very pleasing to God! On one occasion, my Mother showed me her First Communion Prayer Book that she had kept with her for close to eighty years! No doubt we will be lifted up on eagles’ wings, soar to the heavenly heights, if we learn and practice the art of prayer.

Tenth, Gift to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Of course, it was the Blessed Virgin Mary who said Yes to God and Jesus took on flesh in her most pure womb. Mary offered Jesus as a Gift in the Temple when He was forty days old. Mary also offered to God the Father, Jesus as He hung upon the cross on Good Friday, shedding every drop of His Precious Blood for our eternal salvation. A gift most pleasing to Mary, the Mother of God, would be the family praying the most Holy Rosary together. In the words of the Rosary-priest, Father Patrick Peyton, “The family that prays together, stays together.” Every time we say: Hail Mary, Hail Mary, Hail Mary, the Immaculate Heart of Mary rejoices exultantly!

To conclude, let us all make a concerted effort to live out the art of giving, especially spiritual gifts. Saint Mother Teresa insisted upon giving, so much so that she stated: “Give until it hurts.” Saint Paul stated: “There is more joy in giving than in receiving.” (Acts 20: 35) Jesus was born to give all—His Precious Body and Blood on the cross for love of you and me. Let us give generously with abundant love.

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

Second Sunday of Advent

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

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6^TH Mk. 5: 1-8   “”One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals.”

Let us compare three other Bible verses to this one. All three are the words of JESUS to us!

Mt. 11:11… “Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”

Jn. 13:14-16… At the Last Supper, Jesus washed the feet of His disciples and then said to them: “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master.”

Mt. 25: 48… “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”

• Jesus clearly calls us to service! Our first calling is to serve in our vocation as priest and/or religious, married, or single. We are also called to serve helping our neighbor! From Jesus’ example of washing the Apostles feet, a task reserved for slaves, it is clear that we should consider no act of service beneath us!
• Today, Fr. Ed Broom reminds us of another most important avenue of service— Prayer! Add to our prayers, the trials and sufferings that are part and parcel of daily living, and Jesus promises us that souls will be saved! “My daughter, You will save more souls through prayer and suffering than will a missionary through his teachings and sermons alone.” (Diary of St. Faustina #1767)
• May the Child Jesus bless our prayers with the salvation of immortal souls— the souls of those for whom we pray as well as our own poor souls!

CHRISTMAS PREPARATION: COME LORD JESUS!  by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

Amidst the many distractions of life, it is very easy for us to be sidetracked as to really living out the true meaning of Christmas, if you like, the true “Reason for the Season.” The very focal point and meaning for the season of Christmas is the Person of Jesus. Christmas indeed is the birthday of Jesus Christ. A little more than 2000 years ago, Jesus was born in Bethlehem—meaning “House of Bread” —with the purpose of saving us. Actually His name Jesus means Savior, as the Archangel Gabriel announced to Mary: “He will save the people of their sins.” How then can each of us prepare our heart, mind, and soul for the Birthday of our loving Redeemer? We would like to offer a few concrete suggestions for prayers on behalf of those whose salvation is at great risk! Not only will these prayers earnestly prayed be of paramount importance in helping to save these souls, but the love with which we pray them will prepare the way for Jesus to be born in our hearts this Christmas.

1. LET US PRAY FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT CARE TO BE SAVED.
There is a class of persons who really do need frequent and fervent prayers. These are individuals, and there are many of them, who never think of, much less talk to God. For them, living a pagan and hedonistic lifestyle—for the world and the pleasures the world offers—is the end and purpose of their existence. They are blinded to seeing anything beyond momentary, fleeting, and transitory pleasures. For them, life and the meaning of life is here and now! Let us pray for these individuals that they become aware of their dire need for Jesus and become enlightened to see that only Jesus can give true happiness in this life, as well as in the life to come.

 2. LET US PRAY FOR THE ANGRY, THE BITTER, THE RESENTFUL. THOSE WITH UNFORGIVING HEARTS.
Then there is another class of individuals who urgently need fervent and frequent prayers so that they can truly encounter Jesus when He is born and comes to live with us. Emmanuel means “God with us”.  These are wounded individuals who have gaping wounds from their past. Instead of their wounds healing, they have grown worse, become putrid and infected. In a certain sense, they become cancerous. The worst thing about these individuals is the simple fact that they do not recognize that they are bitter and unforgiving. Everybody is at fault except them! May these individuals be enlightened to the reality of God’s Infinite Mercy! May they have the courage to recognize that they have been mortally wounded by others but that they must forgive, they must be merciful, as our heavenly Father is merciful! If done, they will be setting the captives free, and they themselves are the captives who need to be set free!

3. LET US PRAY FOR THOSE WHO ARE SLAVES OF ADDICTIONS.
Never have we lived in a society with so many addictions. Drugs, drink, gambling, horses, casinos, sex, pornography, overeating, buying and accumulating—just to mention a few, are all forms of addiction. Jesus came to save all souls. Jesus also said that sin is slavery. Dragging the moral chains and bonds of sin is actually worse than physical slavery. Saint John the Baptist experienced the bonds and chains of imprisonment as a result of his denouncing the adulteress relationship between King Herod and his brother’s wife. However, King Herod was more a slave and prisoner than John the Baptist! Herod indeed was a slave of his passions—his greed, lust, pride, insecurities; these were more insidious and more perilous bonds then the chains and manacles that bound the Baptist. Let us pray in a very special way for the many people in modern society who are slaves of addictions, who are blind or powerless to break asunder these sinful chains. The great Saint Augustine was bound and enslaved to the addiction of lust for more than 30 years. Due to the prayers of his mother, Saint Monica, and the powerful and holy example of Saint Ambrose, his addiction was conquered! Augustine went on to become a great saint, writer, teacher, preacher, Bishop, saint and Father of the Church.

4. LET US PRAY FOR THOSE WHO LIVE IN THE DARKNESS OF IGNORANCE.
Never have we lived in a society with so much information, but never have we lived in a society with so much ignorance, especially in the realm of religion. Let us pray for the many Catholic-Christian adults who have not studied their faith for many years, possibly decades. Maybe they were confirmed in their early teens and since then have not opened a single religious book, a catechism, or even the Bible. On a professional level, it could be that they are thriving, but in knowledge and love for their faith they are spiritually as dead as a door nail. The worst part in this scenario is that they have no hunger, no thirst for the truth. Jesus is the Way, the TRUTH, and the Life. Nobody comes to the Father except through Him. Let us pray for these individuals that they will come to a keen awareness of their ignorance of religious truth, and begin to hunger and thirst for the truth to finally dispel this cloak of ignorance. May the Holy Spirit, who descended upon Mary and the Apostles that first Pentecost in fire and wind, enlighten these individuals and forcefully blow away and dispel their ignorance.

5. LET US PRAY FOR THOSE WHO PERVERT THE INNOCENT.
Finally, there is a very important category that we should pray for that they may encounter the Light of Jesus the Savior—those who pervert and damage the innocent! Jesus said regarding those who scandalize or pervert the innocent that it would be better for them to have a millstone tied around their neck and be thrown into the depths of the sea. Very strong words from the lips of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ that should be listened to! Many who work in television, many who work in fashion and dress, many who promote indecent websites, many who publish indecent magazines—many of these fall into the category of those who pervert and scandalize the innocent, especially the minds and hearts of children. We should pray fervently for their conversion and salvation, for their sake and for the sake of the innocent ones they harm!

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

Saturday of the First Week of Advent

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

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5^TH Mt. 9: 35-10:1, 5a, 6-8   “At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them, because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd.”

• Jesus has such great love and compassion for His people that He sends out His Twelve disciples giving them authority over unclean spirits. Jesus is still doing that today! Sending out priests in every generation to the lost sheep with authority to drive out unclean spirits through Baptism, and then through frequent Confessions!
• This is the First Saturday in the month of December when we celebrate two major Marian Feasts – the Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Guadalupe. A perfect time to recall Our Lady of Fatima’s desire that we practice the First Saturdays of the Month Devotion and receive the beautiful Promise accompanying this devotion.
• The devotion requires that we carry out these practices on five consecutive First Saturdays: 1) Make a Sacramental Confession of Reparation, to repair for our sins and all the sins that have pierced the Immaculate Heart of Mary, 2) Attend Mass and receive Holy Communion in reparation, 3) Pray a Rosary in reparation; 4) Meditate for at least 15 minutes on one of the mysteries of the Rosary in reparation and to console the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Note: Each one of these practices must be carried out on five consecutive First Saturdays except Confession, which may be carried out the week before or the week after each First Saturday.
• Our Lady of Fatima promised extraordinary graces for those who carry out the First Saturdays Devotion. These are her exact words: “I promise to assist at the hour of death with the graces necessary for salvation.”
• Let us practice this devotion and show our good will by upgrading our Confessions with a firm purpose of amendment, following the counsel of Fr. Ed Broom.
  

MAKING BETTER SACRAMENTAL CONFESSIONS THROUGH FIRM PURPOSE OF AMENDMENT by Father Ed Broom, OMV

God communicates His grace to us through Jesus Christ, His Mystical Body, which is the Church. The Sacraments are the chief or principal channels by which Jesus sanctifies us, makes us holy. However, and this must be emphasized, the abundance of grace or the lack of grace is commensurate with the disposition of the recipient.

DISPOSITIVE GRACE IN SACRAMENTAL THEOLOGY.  So as to reap the most abundant harvest in the reception of the Sacraments, one must have a firm grasp on what Dispositive Grace really means. To be concrete, dispositive grace means the more open, docile, pure, receptive, and humble the soul, the more abundant the graces.

A SIMPLE IMAGE. The sun will pass through a windowpane once the drapes are pulled open. However, a windowpane that has been sullied or besmirched by smut and dirt, then the abundance of the sun’s rays will be blocked, at least partially. That window cleansed with Windex and a dry newspaper will result in a pure and transparent window and the sunlight will penetrate and permeate the room in abundance. So, it is with the soul—a pure and transparent soul will capture and absorb the abundant light of God’s graces in the reception of the Sacraments!

CONFESSION AND GOD’S ABUNDANT GRACES. The normal and most efficacious means by which we can receive God’s Infinite Mercy is through the worthy reception of the Sacrament of Confession, also known as the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the Sacrament of God’s Infinite Mercy. However, it must be emphasized, the thrust of this short essay is this, the abundance of the graces of all the Sacraments, and most specifically in this article that of Confession, is in direct proportion to the penitent’s disposition and the preparation made before entering the Confessional.

THE FIVE INDISPENSABLE STEPS. There are Five Indispensable Steps that are necessary to receive the grace of forgiveness in the Sacrament of Confession: 1) Examination of conscience; 2) Sorrow for sins, 3) Firm purpose of Amendment, 4) Confession of sins vocally to the priest, who represents Christ; 5) Penance—carry out the penance given by the priest. If done, the grace of the Sacrament flows into the soul.

PASTORAL COMMENT AND ADMONITION. As a priest for many years and having heard thousands of confessions in various countries, I would like to make this comment with the purpose of encouraging penitents to approach this great Sacrament with trust, love, confidence, and frequency. However, with the strong encouragement to analyze one of the five steps or aspects of the Sacrament—the 3rd Step: Firm Purpose of Amendment.

MEANING: Firm Purpose of Amendment. These few words mean the following: as a penitent in receiving the Sacrament of Confession, I will strive with the help of God’s grace and with all of the energy in my will to avoid the near occasion of sin. If you like, I will not play with fire. Or again, I will not walk on thin ice or walk on the slippery slope that leads to a fall. Meaning, I will avoid any person, place, thing, or event that can easily lead me to falling into sin. I will utilize preventive medicine to procure avoidance of the moral infirmity of sin!

Let us offer a few concrete suggestions on how we can upgrade or improve our reception of the Sacrament of Confession and augment grace in our soul—even allow God’s grace to fall in a deluge upon our soul, and most important, to overcome falling into the same sins over and over.

1. IMAGINE THIS TO BE YOUR LAST CONFESSION, THEN JUDGMENT. This thought can be of incalculable value: try to imagine that this Confession might be the last in your life and then Judgment ensues. No doubt with this thought in mind, your preparation will improve 100%.

2. EXAMINE YOUR CONSCIENCE THOROUGHLY. Make a concerted effort to examine your conscience most thoroughly with the help of a guide booklet explaining the Ten Commandments in minute detail. Those who have drifted away from the Church for years or have not studied their faith, almost certainly do not know the Commandments and have a poorly formed conscience.

3. WRITE DOWN THE SINS. Of great utility for us as penitents would be that of writing down our sins. If done, sins will not be forgotten and skipped over in the context of the Confession. The Sacramental Grace of Ordination gives the priest the ability to absolve and forgive sins, but not to read minds.

4. REWIND THE FILM OF YOUR LIFE AND DETECT YOUR SINS. Even before writing down your sins, you should rewind the film of your life since your last Confession and see your sins with great honesty, not glossing over sins, or justifying sins, or rationalizing sins—this is pride. Try to see your sins through God’s eyes with total honesty and truth.

5. THE REASONS THAT PRECEDE AND LEAD YOU TO FALL INTO SIN. Now what is of prime importance in this essay aimed at improving your confessions, is to arrive at the root causes or reasons that lead you into your sins, and possibly what led you to fall into the same sins in the past. This knowledge of self is of enormous importance in helping you to avoid falling into those same sins again, the same traps you have in the past.

6. DESOLATION. In general, relying upon the wisdom of the saints, especially Saint Ignatius of Loyola, the state of desolation is often a key trigger or catalyst that can easily catapult you into the mire of sin. By desolation basically is meant that you feel sad and depressed, have a sense of futility and purposelessness in life. Therefore, when you find yourself immersed in such a state, you must double your spiritual armaments to fight against the ensuing temptations.

7. KRYPTONITE (Superman’s weakness). The devil will take advantage of this weakened state of your soul to launch his missiles to manipulate and maneuver you into his camp and tempt you to sin, and sin again.

8. SELF-KNOWLEDGE OF PAST DESOLATION TO AVOID SINS IN THE PRESENT. Being aware of having slipped and fallen into the mire of your sins in the past due to a state of desolation, you must allow to kick into high gear the Ignatian concept of Agere Contra—this means instead of succumbing to sin, deliberately doing the exact opposite. Instead of overeating, practice temperance. Instead of capitulating to impatience, be doubly patient with the people around you. Instead surrendering to laziness, bounce out of bed 15 minutes earlier. Instead of looking at something impure, contemplate Jesus on the cross with His Mother Mary at the foot of the cross. By living out the Agere Contra—doing the exact opposite, the victory can be won!

9. PRAYER, PENANCE, POWER OF DETERMINATION, PREVENTIVE MEDICINE. Now this is the key to confessing better, most specifically in carrying out Step Three—having a firm purpose of amendment in the scheme of the Sacrament of Confession—and that key is Prayer, Penance, Power of the Will, and Preventive Medicine. Let us look at these series of words with the Letter “P”.  First, by Prayer is meant that even before entering the confessional you strive to make a fervent Act of Contrition. In this prayer you are already aware of your weaknesses and past sins, as well as what preceded these sins. Second, you will be adding to fervent prayer, an act of Penance, again prior to entering the confessional. It can be a small penance. It is not size of the penance that matters but the love and sincerity with which you offer it. Third, Power of the Will—make a really firm act of the will with a determined determination not to sin again. Fourth, now have recourse to the Sacrament of Confession which is not only medicine and healing to the sick of soul, but also Preventative Medicine. If done well, not only are your sins forgiven, but the Sacrament confers the grace not to fall so easily into sin again and past habitual sins will be greatly diminished. In other words, you are having recourse first and foremost to God’s grace, but second and of great importance, doing your own part with good will!

10. NUNC CAEPI—Now I begin! Despite our good efforts, we still can fall. If that is the case, we should strive to bounce back as soon as possible, then strive with the help of God’s grace and with even firmer commitment to fight against sin. As the Psalmist reminds us: “God is slow to anger, but rich in mercy.” (Ps. 145:8) This refers to sin and the Sacrament of Confession. “Even if I should fall a thousand times a day, a thousand times I will get up again and say Nunc Cœpi–Now I begin.” (Ven. Bruno Lanteri. Founder of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary)

11. COMMUNION AND CONFESSION. Another added help to improve our Confessions is to connect it with Communion. By this is meant, when you receive Holy Communion, beg the Sacred Heart of Jesus to support you in your fight, in your struggle against sin, in your weakness. Beg the Eucharistic Lord to strengthen you when you are weak and being tempted, and He will quickly run to your aid. Both Sacraments—Confession and Holy Communion—are intimately connected.

12. OUR LADY REFUGE OF SINNERS. The saints all agree that Mary is most powerful in our struggle against sin. Before having recourse to Confession, let us place our Confession in the hands and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and beg her most fervently every time we confess to the priest to make the best Confession in our life, and also to help us upgrade our firm Purpose of Amendment! Let us beg Mary to help us to avoid any person, place, thing, or circumstance that can plunge us into the mire of ugliness—that is sin. But rather may we choose beauty—that is virtue. “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.”

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

Optional Memorial of Saint John of Damascus,
priest, religious, doctor of the Church

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

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4^TH Mt. 9: 27-31   “As Jesus passed by, two blind men followed him crying out, ‘Son of David, have pity on us!’ Jesus said to them, ‘Do you believe that I can do this?’ ‘Yes, Lord.’ Then he touched their eyes and said, ‘Let it be done for you according to your faith.’”

• How strong is our faith? The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.” (Lk. 17: 5-6).
• This is true Faith in God… “It is easy to say, ‘I believe in God.’ But to say that ‘I believe that God is in control’ can be very hard – really to give Him the evidence of the heart, of the soul bowed down before Him, sometimes in confusion at what He seems to be doing (and not doing) and sometimes in real anguish – and to believe.” (Mother Mary Francis P.C.C.)
• As we prepare to adore the Christ Child in the arms of Mary on Christmas, let us beg for the grace to grow in the virtue of Faith by meditating upon and putting into practice this teaching on Faith. 

ON THE VIRTUE OF FAITH by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

“Be on guard, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong. Your every act should be done with love.” (1 Corinthians 16:13-14)

What is the virtue of Faith? It is a theological virtue that unites us with God in whom we believe—in who He is and in what He says through the Word of God and through the Magisterium and the person of Peter, who is the Pope. A shorter definition, indeed easier to memorize is: “Faith is believing in God without seeing Him.” Faith, together with hope and charity, are infused within our souls in the moment of Baptism. However, like a tiny seed planted in the ground, it must be cultivated, otherwise it can wither and die.

BIBLICAL VERSE. A very graphic Biblical verse, worthy of deep meditation or better yet contemplation, is Saint Peter walking on the water, sinking, and then being lifted up by the hand of Jesus. (Mt. 14:22-32) One of the principal reasons why Peter sank in the waves was that he lifted his eyes from the eyes of Jesus to look at the waves. This can be applied to all of us! When we fix our gaze on the loving eyes of Jesus, then our faith, as well as our hope, remain firmly rooted, if you like anchored! However, once worldly anxieties assail us or worldly values lure and seduce us, then like Simon Peter, we start to falter in our faith and eventually sink in the waves of our fearfulness or sinfulness. Therefore, may we make a firm commitment to fight and stand strong in the faith by striving to keep Jesus always present to us, in our thoughts and in our heart, at all times and places. As the Greek poet, quoted by Saint Paul, expressed it: “In Him we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28)

WHAT ARE THE MAJOR OBSTACLES TO FAITH IN THE MODERN WORLD?  

Related to the topic of faith, we should then ask and respond to this question, what are the major obstacles to faith in the modern world in which we live? There are many, but we would like to highlight a few:

1. LACK OF FORMATION IN THE FAITH. Many have a very weak faith because their parents never made a concerted effort to both teach and live the faith for their children. Parents must be the first teachers of the faith; they promised this on the day of their child’s Baptism. Furthermore, they need to teach their children by both word and example.

2. LACK OF PERMANENT FORMATION. As in the life of any professional, a permanent process of formation is demanded. Doctors, Lawyers, Teachers, Writers, Priests—all must be constantly updating and upgrading their knowledge and practice of their profession in order to keep their job. Likewise, as followers of Christ, our formation process should be perpetual, that is to say, up until the day the Lord calls us. We can never know and love God enough!

3. DISTRACTIONS AND WORLDLINESS. Today there are many distractions and worldliness that can pull us off the straight and narrow path that leads to salvation. Jesus says the path that leads to perdition is wide and spacious and many choose that path; whereas the path that leads to salvation is steep and narrow and there are few who find it and follow it.

4. PRIORITIES. Also, unless we seriously cultivate our faith, other things will begin to take priority over God. Our God is a jealous God who will not take second place to any person, place or thing.

5. SIN. Finally, one of the major obstacles to growing in our faith is SIN. If we give in to sin and allow sin to be our master, our faith will diminish, wither, dry up and perish!!! Then we actually become slaves to our sinful desires and passions.

Now let us move in the opposite direction and respond to how we can bolster our faith and become the means by which others will come back to their faith, grow in their faith, and become apostles bringing still others back to the faith!

1. Every time we pray, we are growing in our faith. Actually prayer is an act of faith because we are praying to God whom we do not see. Servant of God Father John Hardon, S.J. made this observation with respect to faith. He noticed that most of those who once had the faith and lost it, did so due to little prayer or the total abandoning of prayer. Therefore, let us make a strong decision and a concerted effort to strive to grow in prayer every day.

2. SOLID SPIRITUAL READING. Saints have been converted by reading—as in the case of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, who read the lives of the saints after his injury in the battle of Pamplona. Ignatius exclaimed: “If Francis can do it, so can I; if Dominic can do it, then so can I.” Why not decide to bolster your faith on a daily basis by applying yourselves to good spiritual reading. You might even start to read the lives of the saints; they indeed were the heroes of God, and men and women of extraordinary faith!

3. ACCEPT TRIALS LIKE SIMON PETER. When God sends you some trial or tribulation, why not accept it and call out like Simon Peter who was sinking in the waves: Lord, save me! Jesus did save him, and at the same time gently rebuked him with the words: “O man of little faith!” God actually sends you trials to strengthen your faith, like Job in the Old Testament and Peter in the New Testament.

4. EUCHARIST: THE BREAD OF LIFE. It must be said that frequent, worthy, and fervent reception of the Eucharist, the Bread of Life, is by far one of the most powerful means to grow in our faith. “As the deer yearns for the running waters, so my soul yearns for you my God.” (Ps. 42:1) May the words of the Psalmist motivate us to grow in faith by growing in our hunger for the Eucharist—the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ!

5. SHARE YOUR FAITH WITH OTHERS. It is interesting to note that when we share material things, we end up poorer. Not so with spiritual gifts and treasures. The contrary is true! The more we give and share our faith with others, the more our faith is enriched and strengthened!Therefore, let us be open to opportunities that God places in our path—persons that we can share our faith with. Many do not have faith and may never have faith for this simple reason: no one has been ready and willing to share their faith with them. As the Prophet Isaiah expresses it: Blessed are the feet that bring the good news. (Is. 52: 7)

The last words of Jesus before He ascended into heaven were: “Go out to all nations and teach all that I have taught you; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Behold, I will be with you always until the end of the world.” (Mt 28: 19-20) Indeed to be a follower of Christ is to be a missionary, always looking for times, places, and circumstances to share the Good News of salvation. May Our Lady who said YES to God in the Annunciation, and then went in haste to visit her cousin Elizabeth so as to bring the Good News to her, be our inspiration to know our faith, love our faith, grow in our faith, and be zealous to share our faith with the whole world.

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