Tuesday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time

“

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

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3rd Lk. 14: 15-24   “One of those at table with Jesus said to him, ‘Blessed is the one who will dine in the Kingdom of God.’

• Today’s Gospel is about a man who gave a great dinner and invited many who gave many excuses for not coming, so the servant was sent out to bring others to fill the banquet hall. In a parallel Gospel, (Matthew 22: 1-14) a king gives a banquet for his son. Again, those invited give excuses for not coming and the servants are sent out to bring anyone they find to the banquet. However, one man enters without a wedding garment and is cast outside into the darkness.
• We are invited to ponder… Who are those invited to a great dinner, to a banquet? Who are those invited who give all kinds of excuses why they cannot come? Who are those invited in their place? Who is the one thrown out into the darkness?
• The banquet has two meanings. The one giving the banquet and inviting all to come is the Lord and Creator of all! The banquet we are invited to is 1) the great banquet in the Kingdom of Heaven in the presence of our thrice Holy God, and 2) on earth, the banquet of the Eucharist – the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
• Have we ever made excuses not to come to the earthly banquet – the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass to receive Jesus in Holy Communion? What is the “wedding garment” mentioned in the account of Matthew? That is Confession – the garment of Grace. If we die without this garment of Grace, we too will be cast out into the darkness.
• Saint Peter, our first holy Pontiff, says: “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8)
• The best way to repair for our failure and lack of fervor in receiving these two great sacraments, Confession and the most Holy Eucharist, is to become apostles of these Sacraments that are channels of Grace in this present darkness, as well as for a holy and happy death for ourselves and others.
• The Scapular is also called the garment of Grace. Let us beg Mary, the full of grace, to make us fiery apostles for frequent Confession and daily Holy Communion!

BECOME A SOLID BRIDGE TO HEAVEN: Help souls to attain a holy and happy death!  By Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

Saint Thomas Aquinas offers us this succinct definition for charity (which by the way means supernatural love); charity is to will the good of the other. What then would be the absolute, the greatest good for the other?

In the eyes of God, with regard to the human person, the greatest good that a human person can attain is the salvation of their immortal soul. Jesus expressed this truth with brilliant clarity in these unequivocal words: “What would it profit a man if he were to gain the whole world and at the same time lose his soul. What can a man give in exchange for his immortal soul?” (Mt: 16:26)

There are only two ways, two paths, two eternal destinies, and no more! Jesus says that the way that leads to destruction is wide and there are many who choose it. Jesus continues saying that the road that leads to eternal life is narrow and few that choose such a path—for this is the Way of the Cross. It is the Good Friday that leads to the glory of the Resurrection. In a word, either we choose the narrow way of the cross and follow Jesus unreservedly and so attain heaven; or we choose the broad path of ease, comfort, luxury, pleasure and sin and we lose our soul in the eternal flames, and this is forever.

The huge mass of humanity lives for the world, for its glamour, pleasure, power and fame. Their eyes are fixed only on what this world has to offer. Very few indeed have their eyes lifted on high to the reality of Heaven. All too few give much care or concern for their eternal destiny. The biggest tragedy in the world is to throw away one’s eternal salvation. How true the words of Jesus: “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?”

This being the present state of affairs, let us prayerfully meditate upon the eternal Truths, of the reality of death, judgment, heaven, hell, and also of capital importance, eternity—meaning forever and ever and ever. Then let us strive to do all we possibly can to become a solid bridge by which many can cross from this life to Heaven to be with the Lord Jesus, His Mother, the angels and the saints for all eternity. Indeed, what are practical steps we can take to help those who are on the highway to hell to reach heaven?

1. PRAYER. Saint Alphonsus Maria Liguori stated point blank the indispensable necessity of prayer for our eternal salvation in these words that are cited in the Catechism of the Catholic Church: “He who prays much will be saved; he who does not pray will be damned.” A powerful Biblical example that illustrates this truth are the two men who were hanging on crosses between Jesus on the cross at Calvary that First Good Friday—the two thieves. One was lost; the other saved. The Good thief was saved precisely because he prayed at the end of his life. Prayer is talking to Jesus. The Good thief talked to Jesus and begged for mercy. Jesus responded immediately with these consoling and comforting words:  “Amen, amen I say to you: today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Lk. 23: 43)  His few but fervent prayers saved the thief and as Archbishop Fulton Sheen quipped: “And he died a thief because he stole heaven.”

2. MEDITATE UPON THE SHORTNESS OF LIFE. To the many who have drifted into no man’s land—The Waste Land of T.S. Eliot, that is to say into disbelief, doubt and skepticism, remind them how short and uncertain life really is. The Psalmist reminds us of this truth: “Our life is like the flower of the field that rises its head in the morning but withers and dies as the sun goes down.” (Ps. 103: 15-16) Saint Augustine comments on the ephemeral and transitory character of human life with these penetrating words: “Our life in comparison with eternity is a mere blink of the eye.” Saint James adds: “Our life is like a puff of smoke that appears and then is gone.” (Jas. 4:14)

3. UNCERTAINTY OF LIFE. Not only is human life a short breath, a puff of smoke in comparison to eternity, but also, all human life is very precarious, uncertain, and subject to change and that means death. On almost a daily basis we are exposed to untimely deaths: internationally, nationally, locally, and even on a personal or family basis. Not one of us can excuse ourselves from being taken aback or even shocked by some person who was cut down in the prime of their life by some freak accident. Not to be apocalyptic, but that could be you or me in any week, day, hour, or minute. Jesus warns us of the uncertain and precarious character of the human plight in the cogent, concise, and catastrophic Parable of the Rich fool. This man thought he had it made in the shade for a long life of ease, comfort, and pleasure. Jesus brought his utopian dreams to a screeching halt proclaiming to him that he would die that very night. And where will all his possessions go?

4. BRING THE WANDERING SHEEP, THE PRODIGAL SONS TO CONFESSION.  Beyond a shadow of a doubt, one of the greatest acts of charity that you can accomplish is to convince a wandering sheep, or Prodigal Son or Daughter (Lk. 15: 11-32) to go back to God by means of a good Sacramental Confession. Give this wayward person, whose soul has infinite value, an examination of conscience pamphlet. Tell them where and when the confessions are. Accompany them to the Church and the Confessional. Tell them what to do when they confess. Then you go to confession first and come out with a radiant smile. Saint James promises that if we bring back a wandering soul, we save our soul and expiate a multitude of sins. (James 5:20)

5. RECEPTION OF THE LAST SACRAMENTS BEFORE THE LORD CALLS US.  One of the greatest graces that we can receive would be to receive the Last Sacraments before we pass from this life to the next. There is a continuous Rite that a priest administers to the dying. The proper order is the following: Confession, the Anointing of the Sick, then the Eucharist, and if it were to be the last Communion, it is called Viaticum— meaning food for the Wayfarers on their way to the Lord. This would be the ideal order if the sick person had the physical strength, as well as the mental lucidity. Confession forgives sins; the Anointing of the Sick unites the suffering person to the Lord’s Passion on the cross and gives hope; the Eucharist, the Bread of Life, nourishes and gives strength for the last battle against the enemies of the soul.

6. APOSTOLIC PARDON. Very few are aware of the many treasures the Church offers to those who are willing to receive them. The Apostolic Pardon, taken from the treasuries of the Church which spring forth from the Passion, death and Resurrection of Jesus (The Paschal Mystery) is administered by the priest, usually after the final last three Sacraments. The words said by the priest are the following: “Through the holy mysteries of our redemption, may almighty God release you from all punishments in this life and in the life to come. May he open to you the gates of paradise and welcome you to everlasting joy.” Or “By the authority which the Apostolic See has given me, I grant you a full pardon and remission of all your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” With these words, said by the priest over the dying person, the dying person is granted full remission of their sins and a Plenary Indulgence. In concrete terms, upon receiving the Apostolic Pardon, the dying person can have full and total access to Heaven upon their death. What an incredible gift and how few Catholics are aware of this gift!

7. PLENARY INDULGENCES. Somewhat related to the Apostolic Pardon is that of the reception of what is called the Plenary Indulgence. If the conditions are met, the person that receives the Plenary Indulgence has all of their sins forgiven, as well as the temporal punishment due to those sins. If they were to die after properly receiving the Plenary Indulgence, they too could go to heaven immediately after their death. This being said the following are the conditions required to receive a Plenary Indulgence:
(1) SACRAMENTAL CONFESSION. First, the Sacramental Confession done with the priest must be accomplished. Well prepared, expressed, and with true and firm purpose of Amendment.
(2) SACRAMENTAL COMMUNION. Then, participation in Holy Mass with the fervent reception of Holy Communion —the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ.
(3) ACTION REQUIRED FOR THE PLENARY INDULGENCE. There are several possible actions, but we will offer three to choose from: 1) The Family Rosary or praying the Rosary in front of the Blessed Sacrament; 2) Making the Way of the Cross; 3) Meditate upon the Bible, the Word of God, for at least 30 minutes.
(4) PRAY FOR THE INTENTIONS OF THE PONTIFF. Next, praying for the intentions of the Holy Father, the Pope.
(5) FIRM PURPOSE TO GIVE UP SIN. Last but not least, to receive the Plenary Indulgence, the person must make a most firm purpose to give up all sin—both mortal and venial—as well as the near occasion of sin.

If these five conditions are carried out, then the individual can obtain a Plenary Indulgence, meaning his soul becomes innocent of all sins, as well as punishment for these sins. If the Lord were to call him from this life to the next at this very moment, he could have immediate access to Heaven! How many free gifts Jesus offers through His Church, but how few people take advantage of them!!!

8. PERFECT ACT OF CONTRITION.  Another very important practice that must be preached and taught far and wide is the practice of striving to make a Perfect Act of Contrition as soon as one is aware of having fallen into mortal sin. This practice most especially should be practiced before retiring every night. Sacramental Confession is not always possible due to the shortage and lack of priests. However, one can make a Perfect Act of Contrition at any time and any place, if moved by the grace of God. By “Perfect Act of Contrition” is meant that our sorrow for mortal sin is not simply Fear of the Lord and fear of eternal punishment—this is Attrition or Imperfect Contrition. To be perfect, the sorrow must come from the depths of one’s heart with a firm purpose to avoid sinning in the future due to true love of God. In other words, we do not want to sin even in the slightest way because God loves us so much and we want to return His love with the love in our own heart. If the Perfect Act of Contrition is done, then the person is restored to the state of grace even before Sacramental Confession. However, upon the quickest occasion he should have recourse to Sacramental Confession.

9. CHAPLET OF DIVINE MERCY FOR THE DYING. When a person is dying, temptations, especially to give in to despair, can be very intense. A most powerful and efficacious means to save such a soul is to pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy that Jesus taught to Saint Faustina and strongly recommended. Jesus said these words to Saint Faustina: “My daughter, encourage souls to say the Chaplet which I have given to you. It pleases me to grant everything they ask of me by saying the chaplet. Write that when they say this chaplet in the presence of the dying, I will stand before My Father and the dying person, not as the just Judge, but as the merciful Savior. (Diary # 1541)  Earlier our Lord said to Saint Faustina, as recorded in the Diary: “At the hour of their death, I defend as my own glory every soul that will say it for a dying person, the indulgence is the same.” (Diary # 811). Even if one were not physically present to the dying, as long as the Chaplet is prayed, the dying person will still receive the extraordinary grace of salvation—through the Wounds of the merciful Savior! Therefore, let us do all we can to pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for the dying and to promote this little-known message and wonderful Promise.

10. OUR LADY: THE ROSARY AND ETERNAL SALVATION.  Another powerful weapon that we have at our disposition to help us attain the grace of all graces, and that is to die in the state of grace, is to pray the most Holy Rosary on a daily basis. Saint Padre Pio spoke of the Rosary thus— “Give  me my Weapon!” Indeed, if you and your family have formed the habit of praying the most Holy Rosary on a daily basis, then you are preparing yourself for death at least fifty times every day. How? Every time you say the words at the end of the Hail Mary, you say:  “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.” By these words we are inviting Mary to be with us at the very moment we die, helping us to beg for forgiveness and God’s infinite mercy through her most powerful intercession.

In conclusion, Saint Alphonsus Liguori teaches us “the grace of all graces is to die in the state of grace.”  If done, our soul is saved for all eternity. Therefore, we warmly encourage you to read this article, try to understand and even memorize its content. Then share this with your loved ones, as well as many who have wandered away from the faith. But most important: strive to live this message. If done, heaven will be yours for all eternity. May Our Lady pray for us now and at the hour of our death!

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

The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed(All Souls)

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

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2nd  Jn. 6: 37-40   “For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.” 

Today the Church celebrates All Souls Day. According to Catholic belief, the soul of a person who dies free of mortal sin, but still in a state of lesser (venial) sin, goes to the purifying fire of Purgatory to be cleansed and perfected before they enter into heaven.

• As Catholics, we should be familiar with the scriptural basis for this belief.

 2 Mac. 12: 38-45   Judas and his soldiers have just won a major battle.

Then Judas assembled his army and went to the city of Adul′lam. As the seventh day was coming on, they purified themselves according to the custom, and they kept the Sabbath there.

On the next day… Judas and his men went to take up the bodies of the fallen and to bring them back to lie with their kinsmen in the sepulchers of their fathers. Then under the tunic of every one of the dead they found sacred tokens of the idols of Jam′nia, which the law forbids the Jews to wear. And it became clear to all that this was why these men had fallen.

So they all blessed the ways of the Lord, the righteous Judge, who reveals the things that are hidden; and they turned to prayer, beseeching that the sin which had been committed might be wholly blotted out. And the noble Judas exhorted the people to keep themselves free from sin, for they had seen with their own eyes what had happened because of the sin of those who had fallen.

He also took up a collection, man by man, to the amount of two thousand drachmas of silver, and sent it to Jerusalem to provide for a sin offering. In doing this he acted very well and honorably, taking account of the resurrection. For if he were not expecting that those who had fallen would rise again, it would have been superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead. But if he was looking to the splendid reward that is laid up for those who fall asleep in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought. Therefore he made atonement for the dead that they might be delivered from their sin.  End of Scripture Passage

PURGATORY: GOD’S CLEANSING FIRE OF LOVE  by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

1. PURGATORY. Also a doctrinal truth taught by the Catholic Church. It is a clear manifestation of the goodness and mercy of our Loving and Good God!
2. NOTHING IMPURE. The Bible teaches us with utmost clarity that nothing impure can enter the presence of God.
3. WHO GOES TO PURGATORY? The Church teaches that those who die in the state of sanctifying grace, being free of the stark reality of Mortal Sin, but who have less serious stains on their soul must go to a place of Purification that we call PURGATORY!
4. WHAT MUST BE PURIFIED? Venial sins and repented mortal sins that have not been fully expiated or purified must undergo a process of purification.
5. LENGTH? Different from Heaven and Hell, Purgatory is temporal—that is to say, eventually it comes to an end according to the state of each individual soul. At the end of time, Purgatory will come to an end and cease to exist!
6. WHAT IS IT LIKE? According to Catholic Tradition, Purgatory is a cleansing fire. As gold is purified in fire, so the soul is purified of all elements of sin and selfishness by the cleansing fire of the love of God.
7. AN ANALOGY. The Book of Revelation compares Heaven to that of a Wedding Banquet. Nobody in their right mind would enter a Wedding Banquet with dirty and smelly clothes. No! They would have to be washed and cleaned first. So it is with Heaven. Purgatory washes the dirty stains of sin that still remain on our soul so that we can enter the eternal Heavenly Banquet to be with God and His angels and saints.
8. ANOTHER? Yes, Saint John of the Cross presents a cold, dirty, and rusty piece of iron that is cast into a blazing fire. As the iron heats up and gets hot, the coldness, dirt, and rust fall from the iron, until finally, the iron is red hot and becomes like the fire. So it is in Purgatory, the fire of God’s love must burn away the coldness and rust of our selfishness!
9. WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP THE SOULS IN PURGATORY? The three classical works of Lent, which can be done any time of year: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. The more we do these practices, the better for the souls in Purgatory, for the sooner they will be released to Heaven! Of course, the most powerful prayer is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and the reception of Holy Communion for the souls in Purgatory. By the way, the souls in Purgatory cannot pray for themselves, but they can pray for us! Let us ask them to pray for our eternal salvation!
10. PLENARY INDULGENCE AND PURGATORY. This can be offered for the souls in Purgatory or for yourself, but you cannot offer it for anyone else who is living. Conditions? 1) Confession 2) Mass and Holy Communion, 3) Indulgenced prayer such as a Rosary prayed in the family or in front of the Blessed Sacrament, 4) Pray for the intentions of the Holy Father, and 5) strive to give up sin, fully and totally. You could earn this Plenary Indulgence every day and release a soul from Purgatory every day! All the conditions have to be met for each day that you wish to obtain a Plenary Indulgence, with the exception of Confession which can be done within 20 days. Assuredly these souls would show their gratitude by praying for all your intentions and your eternal salvation! End of Reflection

IN DEFENSE OF PURGATORY  by Benedict XVI…

I would go so far as to say that if there was no purgatory, then we would have to invent it, for who would dare say of himself that he was able to stand directly before God. And yet we don’t want to be, to use an image from Scripture, “a pot that is turned out wrong,” that has to be thrown away; we want to be able to be put right.

Purgatory basically means that God can put the pieces back together again. That He can cleanse us in such a way that we are able to be with Him and can stand there in the fullness of life. Purgatory strips off from one person what is unbearable, and from another the inability to bear certain things, so that in each of them a pure heart is revealed, and we can see that we all belong together in one enormous symphony of being.  End of Reflection

• Purgatory was also defended by C.S. Lewis, an Anglican Christian apologist who held a very Catholic view of Purgatory, even quoting from the poem Dream of Gerontius written by Saint Cardinal Henry Newman, a former Anglican priest who converted to Catholicism.

THE NECESSITY OF PURGATORY  by C.S. Lewis (+1963) from “Letters to Malcolm”…

Of course I pray for the dead. The action is so spontaneous, so all but inevitable, that only the most compulsive theological case against it would deter me. And I hardly know how the rest of my prayers would survive if those for the dead were forbidden. At our age, the majority of those we love best are dead. What sort of intercourse with God could I have if what I love best were unmentionable to Him?

I believe in Purgatory. The right view returns magnificently in Newman’s DREAM. There, if I remember it rightly, the saved soul, at the very foot of the throne, begs to be taken away and cleansed. It cannot bear for a moment longer “with its darkness to affront that Light”.

Our souls demand Purgatory, don’t they? Would it not break our heart if God said to us, “It is true, my son, that your breath smells and your rags drip with mud and slime, but we are charitable here and no one will upbraid you with these things, nor draw away from you. Enter into the joy”? Should we not reply, “With submission, sir, and if there is no objection, I’d rather be cleaned first.”… “It may hurt, you know”…“Even so, sir.”

I assume that the process of purification will normally involve suffering. Partly from tradition; partly because most real good that has been done me in this life has involved it. But I don’t think the suffering is the purpose of the purgation. I can well believe that people neither much worse nor much better than I will suffer less than I or more. The treatment given will be the one required, whether it hurts little or much. End of Reflection

• What Benedict XVI and C.S. Lewis and Saint John Henry Newman intimate is that if we should appear before Jesus in all His glory and find ourselves imperfectly purified, we will dive headlong into Purgatory in our eagerness to attain the glory that awaits us, for the soul cannot bear for a moment longer “with its darkness to affront that Light.”

 THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS – The Bigger Picture!

CCC 1474. The Christian who seeks to purify himself of his sin and to become holy with the help of God’s grace is not alone. The life of each of God’s children is joined in Christ and through Christ in a wonderful way to the life of all the other Christian brethren in the supernatural unity of the Mystical Body of Christ, as in a single mystical person.

CCC 1475. In the communion of saints, a perennial link of charity exists between the faithful who have already reached their heavenly home, those who are expiating their sins in purgatory, and those who are still pilgrims on earth. Between them there is an abundant exchange of all good things. In this wonderful exchange, the holiness of one profits others, well beyond the harm that the sin of one could cause others. Thus recourse to the communion of saints lets the contrite sinner be more promptly and efficaciously purified of the punishments for sin.

CCC 1476. We also call these spiritual goods of the communion of saints the Church’s treasury – the infinite value, which can never be exhausted, which Christ’s merits have before God. They were offered so that the whole of mankind could be set free from sin and attain communion with the Father. In Christ, the Redeemer Himself, the satisfactions and merits of His Redemption exist and find their efficacy.

CCC 1477. This treasury includes as well, the prayers and good works of the Blessed Virgin Mary. They are truly immense, unfathomable, and even pristine in their value before God. In the treasury, too, are the prayers and good works of all the saints, all those who have followed in the footsteps of Christ the Lord and by His grace have made their lives holy and carried out the mission the Father entrusted to them. In this way they attained their own salvation and at the same time cooperated in saving their brothers in the unity of the Mystical Body.

• How blessed we are to enjoy the fullness of the Truth as Catholic Christians! Let us give praise and thanksgiving to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit! Let us beg our Blessed Mother, the angels and saints in Heaven, and the souls in Purgatory to pray for our true contrition and purification here, so that we may go straight to Heaven when we die!

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

Solemnity of All Saints

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

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1^st Mt. 5: 1-12   “When Jesus saw the crowds…. He began to teach them.”   Solemnity of All Saints

BEATITUDES: MIRROR INTO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS AND HIS VIRTUES  by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

THE PREACHING OF JESUS AT HIS BEST. Our meditation/contemplation will be on the preaching of Jesus. In fact you might even present as the heart of His preaching the Sermon on the Mount, which can be found in the Gospel of Saint Matthew 5, 6, and 7. However, the focus of this meditation is Jesus’ preaching of the EIGHT BEATITUDES and their promises. (Mt. 5:1-12) Pope Saint John Paul II stated: “The Beatitudes are a mirror into the Heart of Jesus.” If you sincerely want to have a glimpse into the Sacred Heart of Jesus and His most sublime virtues, then enter into the Beatitudes. That will be our meditation, our contemplation, and our challenge— to really get to know Jesus more intimately, love Him more ardently, be motivated to follow Him more closely and bring others to Him. Last, but by no means least, to become like Him. Until in the words of Saint Paul: “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” (Gal. 2:20)

FIRST BEATITUDE: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Jesus lived what He preached starting out with this first Beatitude. Jesus was rejected before He was born – “there was no room for them at the inn”. (Lk. 2:7) His birth was in a poor stable in Bethlehem. He worked a hard and demanding job as a Carpenter. Once He left home, He had no fixed abode as He Himself said: “The foxes have their dens and the birds of the air have their nests, but the Son of man has nowhere to lay His head.” (Lk. 9:58) For three years Jesus lived relying and depending totally on His Father’s Divine and Providential care. He died rejected on the cross, stripped of His garments and of His dignity. Finally, He was buried in a borrowed tomb. Jesus truly lived poverty, detachment, and total trust in God. What about us? Are we attached to persons, places, things, circumstances, and even our own way of thinking and mode of living? Have we become a slave of things? Have we allowed our possessions to possess us? Let us examine our life and pray over this Beatitude!

SECOND BEATITUDE: “Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Three times we see Jesus weeping in His Public life. The first, over the city of Jerusalem: “How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing.” (Mt. 23:37) The second, at the death of His friend Lazarus, brother of Mary and Martha: “Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, ‘See how he loved him!’” (Jn. 11: 35-36) The third, in the Garden of Gethsemane, entering into His Passion. This is recounted in the Letter to the Hebrews: “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death.” (Heb. 5:7) What profit can be derived from weeping? In our case, we should weep for our many sins, for the sins of our children and family, as well as for the sins of the world at large. Our Lady of Lasalette (France) wept for the sins of the people. Our Lady of Syracuse (Sicily) and Our Lady of Akita (Japan) wept tears of blood. Saint Monica wept profuse tears for the conversion of her wayward son, Augustine, who became the great Saint and Doctor of the Church—Saint Augustine. Therefore, pray over this Beatitude and weep, most especially for your own personal sins, for the sins and conversion of family members not practicing the Faith, and for the sins of the world. “Be converted, because the Kingdom of God is at hand.” (Mk. 1:15)

THIRD BEATITUDE: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the land.”  Meekness is not weakness, but rather powerful emotion under control. Often meekness is translated or understood as the virtue, so necessary, of PATIENCE!!! Once again we contemplate the infinite patience of Jesus at all times and in all places. His patience with His faulty and flawed Apostles. His patience with the Pharisees constantly attacking Him. His patience with the many sinners who came to Him. Most especially, His patience in His Passion, carrying the cross, now stumbling and falling, now getting up again. His patience and mercy toward His enemies: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing.” (Lk. 23:34) Let us contemplate Jesus and beg for true meekness of heart. “Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart line unto thine.” Let us pray for patience with God and His dealings with us; patience with others, especially family members; and patience with ourselves. Never give in to discouragement. When we fall, get up! Nunc Coepi—Now I will begin again. 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)

FOURTH BEATITUDE: “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness or holiness, for they will be satisfied.” Jesus is the holy of holiness—meaning, the whole life of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is a model and pattern of resplendent and perfect holiness—a pattern to follow, to imitate. Jesus wants us to be holy, to become a great saint! Later, Jesus issues an imperative command: “Be holy as your heavenly Father is holy.” (Mt. 5:48) What Jesus commands, He will give the grace and power to carry out. But we must beg fervently, frequently, and full of faith for the grace to be holy. Then in all of our words, actions, and intentions have Jesus always before our eyes. One of the most famous books ever written is precisely that: THE IMITATION OF CHRIST!!! Beg the saints for the grace to live out this wonderful but challenging Beatitude. May the prayer of the Psalmist be yours and mine: “As the deer yearns for running streams, so my soul longs for you, O Lord my God.” (Ps 42:1) May we hunger and thirst for God and for holiness above any other person, place or thing in our lives!!!

FIFTH BEATITUDE: “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Once again, Jesus is our sublime and supreme model in His preaching and in His life-style. A few of His teachings on the importance of mercy:

• “Be merciful as your Heavenly Father is merciful.”
• “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” (The Our Father)
• “Leave your gift and first be reconciled to your brother and then offer your gift.”
• “Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing.” (The first words of Jesus as he hangs from the cross.)

Of course the most sublime example of mercy shown by Jesus, as mentioned above, was when He hung from the cross, basically an open and gaping wound: “Father forgive, them for they know not what they are doing.” Scourged, crowned with thorns, spat upon, insulted, abandoned by His best friends, and even apparently by His Heavenly Father, what does Jesus do? He forgives them from the depths of His Pierced Heart! What a sublime example of love, compassion, forgiveness and especially this Beatitude of MERCY!!!

YOUR OWN LIFE AND MERCY. Dig into the depths of your heart and be sincere, honest, and transparent, how many times have you been willing in your life to forgive? Beg now for the grace to forgive all those who have hurt you, and beg for the grace to reject resentment from these hard feelings that militate against living out this Beatitude: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”

SIXTH BEATITUDE: “Blessed are the clean of heart (pure of heart), for they will see God.” A most challenging virtue and disposition of heart and soul to live. Jesus is our model always and at all times! Jesus’ eyes, mind, heart, soul, body, and even His intentions were always most pure and focused on the Face of the Eternal Father. The will of Jesus was to carry out the will of the Heavenly Father. Our Lady of Fatima said with sadness that most souls are lost as a result of impurity—breaking the 6th and 9th Commandments. Look into your inner being, your life past and present, and humbly beg for purity. Beg for purity of eyes, ears, body, mind, heart, soul, and even purity of intention. In the words of Saint Paul: “Whether you eat or drink do all for the honor and glory of God.” (1Cor 10:31) Call to mind the motto of Saint Ignatius in the Spiritual Exercises: A.M.D.G.—All for the honor and glory of God. Finally, the words of Saint Paul again: “You have been redeemed by the Blood of Jesus; therefore, glorify God in your bodies!” (1 Cor. 6:20) Our bodies are the Temples of the living God! May we use them in all times and places to glorify God. In closing, turn to the Blessed Virgin Mary and consecrate yourself to her most pure and Immaculate Heart: “Sweet Heart of Mary, be my salvation!” Take the thorns from her Heart and crown her Heart with beautiful roses—the rose petals of purity of heart, mind, body, and soul!!!

SEVENTH BEATITUDE: “Blessed are the peace-makers, for they will be called the children of God.” Lift your eyes to Jesus and beg for the grace to live out this Beatitude that refers to peace! The Prophet Isaiah called Jesus the Prince of Peace. Jesus would greet the Apostles with the word: SHALOM meaning—PEACE BE WITH YOU!!!  Upon the birth of Jesus, the angelic choir sang: “Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth to people of good will.” Upon appearing to the Apostles in the Upper Room that first Easter Sunday night, Jesus addressed the Apostles in these words: “Shalom! As the Father sends me so I send you.” And He breathed on them and said: “Receive the Holy Spirit; whose sins you forgive, they will be forgiven, and whose sins you hold bound, they will be held bound.” (Jn. 20:21-23) A key Sacramental interpretation of this beatitude is the following: to really be a true peace-maker, we must first be at peace with God by renouncing sin and our sinful patterns. For we will never be at peace with others while we are at war with God and within ourselves! How can this be done? Most clearly by forming the habit of well-prepared, and well-made Sacramental Confessions. What beautiful and consoling words from the priest: “I absolve you of your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Your sins are forgiven, go in PEACE!!!”  Meditate upon this Beatitude and examine your habit of Confession and the quality of your confessions. There probably is stlil some need for improvement!!! May Our Lady Queen of Peace come to our aid!!!

EIGHTH BEATITUDE: “Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.” Once again, clearly not only did Jesus teach this but He lived it to the highest degree of perfection. Not only was Jesus persecuted, He went through the most bitter Passion, suffering and death on the cross. All of this is a most sublime teaching of the Beatitude on PERSECUTION. As the Acts of the Apostles states: “Jesus went about doing good.” (Acts 10:38) Despite His kindness, and all the good He did—His love for the poor, the sick, the suffering, the marginalized, the forgotten and neglected, even the little children, the orphans and widows—still Jesus was nailed to the cross. Therefore, if we really live out the first Seven Beatitudes, our reward is the Eighth: “Blessed are they who are persecuted for the the sake of the Kingdom, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Indeed, if you are really and truly living out the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, then you indeed will experience some form of persecution. It might be at work, or in your extended family, or even in your immediate family, maybe even from your spouse and children. Jesus said that He did not come to bring peace but war, especially in the family. Family members will be divided because of their allegiance and love for Jesus the Lord. We cannot serve money and God, nor the world and God. They are diametrically opposed. Jesus must be our alpha and omega, our principle and end, our purpose and meaning in life. Jesus has to be the ardent and constant desire of our heart. Who were those who really lived out this last Beatitude to the highest degree? Obviously this would be the class that we call the MARTYRS—a word meaning witness. They gave the most eloquent witness to their love for the Lord Jesus by imitating Jesus in shedding their blood for Him! “No greater love exists than to give one’s life for his friends.” (Jn. 15:30)

CONCLUSION

May the serious and deep meditation on the Beatitudes spur you on with every fiber of your being to get to know Jesus more fully, love Him more ardently, follow Him more closely, so as to bring others to Him more frequently and live out the words of Saint Paul related to our transformation in Christ: “It is no longer I who lives but Christ who lives in me.” (Gal 2:20)

Biographical notes: Pope Francis in Gaudete et Exultate has left an excellent commentary on the Beatitudes, Chapter Three, Numbers 63-109. Also, the modern author, preacher and Retreat Director, Jacques Phillipe, has written a book on the Beatitudes. Great resources!

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

Saturday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

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

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31st   Lk. 14: 1, 7-11   “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

No one was more hidden than Mary nor at the same time greater than Mary! Let us praise, honor, and love the Blessed Virgin Mary on this day of the week devoted to Mary—Mother of Jesus, Our Lord and Savior; Mother of the Church—Mater Ecclesiae; and the Mother of us all by grace!

Part 1: The Humility of the Blessed Virgin Mary by Saint Louis de Montfort
Part 2: IMITATE THE VIRTUES OF MARY – THE BIG TEN by Fr. Ed, OMV

PART 1:
The Humility of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Excerpt from “Introduction to True Devotion to Mary” by Saint Luis de Montfort.
1. It was through the Blessed Virgin Mary that Jesus came into the world, and it is also through her that He must reign in the world.
2. Because Mary remained hidden during her life, she is called by the Holy Spirit and the Church “Alma Mater”, Mother hidden and unknown. So great was her humility that she desired nothing more upon earth than to remain unknown to herself and to others, and to be known only to God. (“Alma Mater” comes from two Latin words meaning “nourishing or bountiful mother.”)
3. In answer to her prayers to remain hidden, poor, and lowly, God was pleased to conceal her from nearly every other human creature in her conception, her birth, her life, her mysteries, her resurrection and assumption. Her own parents did not really know her; and the angels would often ask one another, “Who can she possibly be?”, for God had hidden her from them, or if He did reveal anything to them, it was nothing compared with what He withheld.
4. God the Father willed that she should perform no miracle during her life, at least no public one, although He had given her the power to do so. God the Son willed that she should speak very little, although He had imparted His wisdom to her. Even though Mary was His faithful spouse, God the Holy Spirit willed that His apostles and evangelists should say very little about her, and then only as much as was necessary to make Jesus known.
5. Mary is the supreme masterpiece of Almighty God and He has reserved the knowledge and possession of her for Himself. She is the glorious Mother of God the Son who chose to humble and conceal her during her lifetime in order to foster her humility. He called her “Woman” as if she were a stranger, although in His heart He esteemed and loved her above all men and angels. Mary is the sealed fountain and the faithful spouse of the Holy Spirit where only He may enter. She is the sanctuary and resting-place of the Blessed Trinity where God dwells in greater and more divine splendor than anywhere else in the universe, not excluding His dwelling above the cherubim and seraphim. No creature, however pure, may enter there without being specially privileged.
6. The saints have said wonderful things of Mary, the holy City of God, and, as they themselves admit, they were never more eloquent and more pleased than when they spoke of her. And yet they maintain that the height of her merits rising up to the throne of the Godhead cannot be perceived; the breadth of her love which is wider than the earth cannot be measured; the greatness of the power which she wields over One who is God cannot be conceived; and the depths of her profound humility and all her virtues and graces cannot be sounded. What incomprehensible height! What indescribable breadth! What immeasurable greatness! What an impenetrable abyss.
7. Finally, we must say in the words of the apostle Paul, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has the heart of man understood” the beauty, the grander, the excellence of Mary, who is indeed a miracle of miracles of grace, nature, and glory. “If you wish to understand the Mother,” says a saint, “then understand the Son. She is a worthy Mother of God.” Hic taceat omnis lingua: Here let every tongue be silent.

IMITATE THE VIRTUES OF MARY – THE BIG TEN by Fr. Ed, OMV

From the cross, Jesus gave the person He loved most on earth, His Blessed Mother Mary, to Saint John and to us as our Mother most holy! May we strive to know Mary, to love Mary, and to imitate Mary a little more every day. In his Marian Spiritual Masterpiece, True Devotion to Mary, Saint Louis de Montfort highlights ten of the most important virtues of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Let us put forth this list of Mary’s principal virtues.

We read in the text of True Devotion to Mary by Saint Louis de Montfort (# 108):
Third, true devotion to our Lady is holy, that is, it leads us to avoid sin and to imitate the virtues of Mary. Her ten principal virtues are: deep humility, lively faith, blind obedience, unceasing prayer, constant self-denial, surpassing purity, ardent love, heroic patience, angelic kindness, and heavenly wisdom.

Let us humbly beg our Blessed Mother Mary for the grace to understand these ten virtues that she practiced always to a heroic degree of perfection, but also let us beg for the grace to be able to put these virtues into practice in our daily walk of life!

1. DEEP HUMILITY. A humble person recognizes that all the good they have done, and can do, is a result of the Presence of God in their life. Mary was most humble, calling herself the servant or the handmaid of the Lord. Also, in her magnificent canticle of praise that we call The Magnificat (Lk. 1:46-55), Mary states that God has looked with favor upon the humility of His handmaid. Let us beg Mary for a meek and humble heart so that like her, we will attribute our successes to God and our failures to ourselves.

2. LIVELY FAITH. Faith is one of the three theological virtues—faith, hope, and charity. Faith is believing in God and His Word without seeing with our eyes. Jesus gently reproved the doubting Thomas with these words: “Blessed are those who believe without seeing.” (Jn. 20:29) Mary is the woman of faith par excellence. Even though Mary witnessed the Passion, suffering, and death of Jesus, she believed that He would conquer death. Therefore, when we are tempted to doubt, let us turn to Mary, the woman of faith, and beg for her most powerful intercession.

3. BLIND OBEDIENCE. By giving her consent in the Annunciation—“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word.” (Lk. 1:38)—Mary displayed an admirable attitude of obedience to the Word of God and trust in His holy will. When we are tempted to rebel and turn against God, let us, through Mary’s prayers and example, obey God like Mary and like Jesus who “was obedient to death, even death on the cross.” (Phil. 2:8)

4. UNCEASING PRAYER. Prayer can be defined as communication with God.  There is no better example in the world, aside from Jesus, with respect to a life of constant prayer then that of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Scripture tells us, “Mary pondered these things in her heart.” (Lk. 2:19) Continually she thought of God in her mind and loved God with all of her heart; she maintained constant communication with the Blessed Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The devil of laziness can attack all of us. May Our Lady inspire us to be constant, fervent, and faithful in prayer! Indeed, prayer is the key to our salvation. What air is to the lungs, prayer is to the soul!

5. CONSTANT SELF-DENIAL. Another way of wording this is mortification—the ascetical life which leads to the mystical life of union with God. Mary denied and sacrificed herself in all times and places. By doing so, she gave full reign for God to work in the entirety of her life. In Mary’s approved Apparitions, both in Lourdes and Fatima, she strongly encouraged the practice of prayer, but also that of sacrifice. By making sacrifices we are imitating Mary in the art of self-denial. Self-denial turns us towards God and away from self. Mary was always God-centered and never self-centered. May this be our style of life!

6. UNSURPASSING PURITY. One of the most sublime virtues that characterizes the most Blessed Virgin Mary is that of her spotless purity; Mary is known as the Immaculate One. In Fatima, Our Lady sadly expressed that most souls are lost to the eternal fires of hell due to sins against the virtue of holy purity. Mary is the Perpetual Virgin. She was virgin before the birth of Jesus, during the birth of Jesus, and after the birth of Jesus. True devotion to Mary can help us maintain our purity, and if we have lost it, to seek restoration through Sacramental Confession. Contemplating a beautiful picture, painting, or statue of Our Lady can instill in us noble aspirations for purity.

7. ARDENT LOVE. Of all the virtues that we are called to practice, that of ardent love, sometimes called charity, is the greatest. Read the beautiful hymn of love of Saint Paul: I Corinthians 13. Our Lady practiced love to a sublime degree and in two ways, for love or charity has two dimensions. Mary at all times and in all places loved God first and foremost. However, Mary expressed concretely her love for God by ardent love for her neighbor. Examples of this. In the Annunciation, through her unconditional Yes Mary showed her total and unreserved love for God. However, moving in haste to visit her cousin Elizabeth, Mary manifested great love for her neighbor. In imitation of Mary, may we say in the words of Saint Paul, “The love of God compels me!” (2 Cor. 5:14) May we learn this double commandment—love of God and love of neighbor—and strive to live it out on a daily basis. Saint John of the Cross: “In the twilight of our existence, we will be judged on love.”

8. HEROIC PATIENCE. Not one of us can say that we are patient at all times, in all places, and in all circumstances. Unlike Mary, who manifested remarkable patience! Consider Mary in her pregnancy, travelling the long trek to Bethlehem and then being rejected—what great patience! Losing the Child Jesus when He was twelve years of age for three long days before finding Him in the Temple—another manifestation of heroic patience! Most especially, in accompanying Jesus in His Passion leading up to His brutal Crucifixion and death, Mary manifested an unequalled patience! When our patience is put to the test, let us call out to Mary for her assistance. She will never fail us!

9. ANGELIC KINDNESS. The opposite of kindness is rudeness. Just try to imagine the way and manner in which Mary must have treated her neighbor! A warm welcome, a kind and winning smile, courtesy to the maximum, an attentive ear to listen—all of these are clear manifestations of kindness, angelic kindness. Mary did all this to the highest degree! Saint Frances de Sales on this virtue commented: One can attract more flies with a spoonful of honey then with a barrel full of vinegar. In other words, kindness attracts others to Christ while rude and drastic measures repel them. May Our Lady teach us what it means to be kind and may we put it into practice!!!

10. HEAVENLY WISDOM. One of the sublime titles given to Mary in her glorious Litany is that of SEAT OF WISDOM. A wise person knows what is most important in life. Dynamic love for God and ardent desire for the salvation of immortal souls are hallmarks of true wisdom. Our Lady had a burning love for God and an ardent desire for the conversion of sinners and their eternal salvation. “The Blessed Virgin persevered in her union with her Son unto the cross… joining herself with his sacrifice in her mother’s heart.” (Vat II, Lumen Gentium) King Solomon was once wise, but he gave into his weakness—that of lustful desires—and ended his life a fool. We beg the intercession of Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom to attain for us not only wisdom now, but perseverance in this sublime virtue until the very end!

In conclusion, may we ardently desire to know, love, and imitate our Blessed Mother Mary! May we be motivated with a firm decision to meditate frequently and fervently on the virtues of Mary most holy and then strive to live them out all the days of our life! Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

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

Friday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

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

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30^TH  Lk. 14:1-6   “Who among you, if your son or ox falls into a cistern, would not immediately pull him out on the sabbath day?

Part 1: Compassion that Cures  by Saint Mother Teresa 
Part 2: CONSOLE, CONSOLE MY PEOPLE  by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

Compassion that Cures  by Saint Mother Teresa  

In Haiti, just as in England, Spain, Italy, or India – there are unhappy people everywhere. Not only because they don’t have any bread to eat. No, they hunger for love, understanding, and companionship. They suffer from loneliness, the feeling of being unwanted and rejected—a poverty of the soul. These are the things that can be far worse than being hungry or not having enough material goods.

Let’s not live distracted lives. Let us know ourselves so that we can better understand our brothers and sisters. If we want to understand those with whom we live, we need to understand ourselves first of all.

Sometimes we see how joy returns to the lives of the most destitute when they realize that many among us are concerned about them and we show them our love. Even their health improves, if they are sick. After all, was it not Christ Himself who said, Every time you did it to the least of my brethren, you did it to me? You are not to be indifferent to the suffering of others, rather their suffering is meant to affect you deeply.” End

CONSOLE, CONSOLE MY PEOPLE  by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

The Prophet Isaiah gives us excellent advice when he says: “Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem.” (Is. 40:1).

Saint Paul in his letter to the Corinthians reiterates the same theme of consolation, using the word encouragement. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of all compassion and God of all encouragement, who encourages us in all our afflictions, so that we may be able to encourage those who are in any affliction with the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God. For as Christ’s sufferings overflow to us, so through Christ does our encouragement also overflow.” (2 Cor. 1: 3-6)

Saint Paul once again highlights the ultimate source of consolation and joy, and that is in God alone, with these words: “Rejoice in the Lord. I say it again: rejoice in the Lord.” (Phil.: 4:4) In humble thanksgiving for God’s consolation in our lives, may we in turn be a consolation to others. The essential thrust of this message is the calling that we have to strive to be a source of consolation to others, but most especially those with whom we live and share our lives. Remember the adage: “Charity begins at home.”

The following is a list of five concrete ways that we can be a source of consolation to others in imitation of Jesus, the Good Samaritan on the highway of life’s journey.

1. FERVENT PRAYER FOR THE DESOLATE. At home in our family, when we see someone with a sad, depressed, discouraged look, the devil can tempt us to be cold, mean, distant, or even sarcastic with that person. “You’re a sourpuss today, what’s wrong with you?” Nothing could be worse! The first thing we should do is to offer a fervent prayer to the Holy Spirit, asking “The Consoler”—the Holy Spirit Himself to move them from desolation to consolation. This is true compassion and love. Apply the Golden Rule! “Do to others what you would like them to do to you.” In those dark, dreary, and down moments, we all would be grateful to have a loved one say a fervent prayer for us!

2. A KIND WORD OR TWO. Our fervent prayer for them will often move us to take action! Before Pentecost, the Apostles prayed and fasted with the Blessed Virgin Mary and received a powerful outpouring of the Holy Spirit. This moved them to action, preaching the Word of God to the ends of the earth. (Acts 2) For somebody who is down in the dumps, we must learn how to say words that are kind, words that are uplifting, words that are edifying, words that are anointed with consolation. A few examples of consoling words: May God bless you and bring you comfort… Our Lord and Our Blessed Mother love you very much… You are in my thoughts and prayers … You are precious in the eyes of the Lord… The Father has you in the very palm of His hand and nobody can snatch you from Him. These words of encouragement can be of inestimable value for someone passing through a dark tunnel in life. Brainstorm to think of other words or expressions that can be a source of consolation for others and then use them! What words have brought you consolation?

3. A KIND PHYSICAL GESTURE. We are made of a composite nature—both body and soul. Saint Paul challenges us to glorify God in our bodies. For someone experiencing interior darkness, a physical gesture of kindness can help pull them out of the dark pit. Examples: a firm handshake, a pat on the shoulder, if they are your spouse, a gentle and loving embrace and kiss—these gestures and many others can communicate loving care and concern, bringing consolation to a desolate heart. Most likely the most famous Parable ever preached by Jesus was the Parable of the Prodigal Son, or we might even call it the Parable of the Merciful Father. (Lk. 15: 11-32) Imagine the wayward son returning home after having squandered all he had on loose living. Likely the son was returning with remorse but also with desolation, maybe even fear and trembling. However, upon seeing his wayward son, the Father runs to embrace him, weeping copious tears of joy. Most surely the embrace and tears of the Father would have filled the Prodigal Son with immense consolation. Let us learn and derive much fruit from this excellent teaching of Jesus the Lord.

4. A RADIANT SMILE. Only human beings are capable of making the gesture that we call a Smile. Most of us would agree that a frown and sadness are contagious. A party can be ruined by one Party-pooper who drags his long face into the festive atmosphere. However, the contrary is also true. By this we mean that a joyful face, a radiant smile can also prove to be contagious. From our own life, we have all experienced the following: someone smiles at us and we are magnetically drawn to smile back. Or if you like, when we took the initiative to smile at someone, most likely that person smiled back. Both a smile and laughter are inexpensive gifts we can offer to the desolate, those who are going through this valley of tears. (The Hail Holy Queen). The saints are unanimous in the fact that a joyful countenance and smile are among the most evident signs that we are indeed followers of Christ and intimate friends with the Holy Spirit.

5. OUR LADY: OUR LIFE, OUR SWEETNESS, AND OUR HOPE.  Noticing somebody in a dark pit of despair, why not turn to Our Lady and pray the Hail Holy Queen for that person. Then talk with that person about Our Lady’s own sorrows. Talk about someone having sorrows!!! Our Lady lost her beloved husband, the good Saint Joseph. However, even more devastating was the fact that she lost her only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Not only that, but Our Lady witnessed the cruel and painful death of her son as she beheld His crucifixion, suffering, and death.

However, Our Lady also experienced an immense and overflowing joy at the Resurrection! Thinking of Mary, a beautiful painting or image of Mary, the presence of Mary, or a prayer to Mary can be the key to helping us and others when we are in desolation to experience once again Joy in the Lord! Our Lady expressed this in the Magnificat: “My soul magnifies the Lord and my rejoices in God my Savior.” (Lk. 1: 46-47) May Our Lady’s prayers and presence turn our desert into a flourishing and blooming interior Garden! May Our Lady, the Mystical Rose, allow her fragrance to permeate and penetrate our entire being!

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