Saturday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24th Lk. 13: 1-9   Jesus said: “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all other Galileans? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them – do you think they were more guilty than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!

• Jesus suffered and died on the cross for the salvation of each and every one of us. For this same purpose – our eternal salvation – in today’s Gospel Jesus is calling us to repentance! We are all sinners, we all fall, we all need the graces that flow from the Sacrament of Confession to restore us to grace when we are in mortal sin, and augment grace in our soul when we are in venial sin, which helps us fall less seriously and less often!
• Following her appearances to the three shepherd children in Fatima, Our Lady gave Jacinta messages regarding specific sins in our lives and our need to repent and change our ways.
• On this Saturday, Our Lady’s Day, let us pray with the following reflection elaborating on Our Lady’s message about the sins that most offend God and concrete suggestions how we can overcome these sins. Our goal is to get to heaven and take as many souls with us as possible. Words won’t convince others, but holy actions will!

OUR LADY OF MERCY AND THE CALL TO PURITY by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

Our Lady of Fatima said many years ago that the primary reason why souls are lost for all eternity is due to the sins against the virtue of purity. She said that many marriages are not pleasing to God, and many fashions would enter into the world that would offend God greatly. To Jacinta, Our Lady also said that priests should be pure, very pure, and dedicate their efforts to the work of God. These messages were given last century, about 100 years ago. How true the words of our Heavenly Mother are today! One of the eight Beatitudes issuing from the Heart of Jesus, full of love, mercy, and purity, was: “Blessed are the pure of heart, for they will see God.” (Mt 5:8)

SAINT FAUSTINA, THE DIARY, AND THE VIRTUE OF PURITY AND MARY.  Related to the topic and virtue of purity in the context of the Diary: Divine Mercy in My Soul of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, there is a very telling number in the Diary, #40, that we would like to summarize and comment on so that we will all strive, through the prayers and intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, to attain purity. We should implore the most holy Virgin Mary for purity of our mind, thoughts, eyes, words, affections, desires, body, soul, and even our intentions.

THE VISION OF JESUS AND PURITY.  Saint Faustina, while absorbed in prayer, had a vision of Jesus who was radiant in beauty. Jesus drew close to the saint and wrapped a golden sash around her waist. By this gesture, Jesus gave Saint Faustina an extraordinary grace and gift: the grace of perpetual chastity of mind, of heart, and of body! The saint understood that this gift of perfect and perpetual chastity was an extraordinary grace. However, it must be said that Saint Faustina commented that she had been begging for this grace through the Blessed Virgin Mary for a long time, and finally the grace was granted.

Therefore, let us all lift our mind, our heart, our soul, and our affections to the Blessed Virgin Mary, known as “The Virgin of Virgins and the Queen of all Virgins” and beg for the grace of an ever growing purity in our total being and person!

We will highlight and explain ten specific offerings or gifts that we can present to Mary, the Queen of all Virgins, so that she will attain for us, despite our past failures, the grace of purity, so that we will be able to live out that wonderful but very challenging Beatitude that flowed from the Burning Sacred Heart of Jesus: “Blessed are the pure of heart, for they will see God.” (Mt 5:8) Here then is our spiritual program, our strategy that we offer to Mary, whose power we will only understand when we arrive in Heaven!

1. MORNING CONSECRATION. Start off every day by consecrating yourself to Jesus through the Immaculate Heart of Mary. This short formula taken from Saint Maximilian Kolbe has always appealed to me, hopefully to you as well, at the crack of dawn:

“O Mary, my Queen and my Mother, I give myself entirely to you and to show my devotion to you, I consecrate to you this day my eyes, my ears, my mouth, my heart, my whole being without reserve. Whereas good Mother, I am your own, keep me and guard me as your property and possession. Amen.”

By starting off your day giving your whole being to Jesus through Mary, many temptations against the virtue of holy purity in thought, word, and deed will be warded off and conquered. In other words, the fiery darts of the devil, the flesh, and the world will be extinguished through Mary’s prayers!

2. SCAPULAR. The Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the external sign of your consecration to Mary. It is the Garment of Grace. (Read this short pamphlet on the Scapular.) Kiss the Scapular after you have prayed your morning Act of Consecration to Jesus through Mary. The kiss symbolizes your great love and trust in Mary. The Church offers an Indulgence every time we kiss the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel with love. Indulgence means graces given that we can apply to ourselves or to the souls in Purgatory to shorten their time there. The Scapular symbolizes Mary embracing you and protecting you with her tender, maternal love—the love of a Mother’s heart.

3. NOVENAS TO MARY. In Diary: Divine Mercy in My Soul we encounter Saint Faustina showing her overflowing love for Mary by making frequent novenas (meaning nine), in which nine days before a Marian Solemnity, the Immaculate Conception or the Assumption of Mary into Heaven Body and Soul, the saint would pray 1000 Hail Marys for nine days straight. Now you may not be able to pray 1000 Hail Marys nine days in a row, but you definitely can pray a Rosary every day for nine consecutive days, for whatever intentions you have! Mary’s presence will fill your mind and heart with pure love!

4. TEMPTATIONS? CALL OUT TO MARY! In the beautiful Marian prayer attributed to Saint Bernard, the Memorare, we pray: “Remember, O gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly to you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To you do I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer me. Amen.” Therefore, when we are assaulted by the ugly devil of impurity, let us call out to Mary and pray the Memorare. Mary will come quickly to our aid and crush the ugly infernal serpent with her heel!

5. CELEBRATE MARIAN LITURGICAL FEASTS: MASS AND HOLY COMMUNION. On Marian Liturgical Feasts, Saint Faustina experienced great joy, and would attend Mass and receive Holy Communion—the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus, the Son of Mary. Why not celebrate the Marian Feasts as Saint Faustina did! When you go to Mass and receive Holy Communion, the Precious Blood of Jesus that was given to Him through the humanity of Mary rushes through every vein and artery of your body and rushes into your heart. This is a sure pathway to holiness and attaining the virtue of holy purity.

6. PRAY THE GOLDEN HAIL MARY. On one occasion, the great German mystic, Saint Gertrude the Great, had a vision of Jesus in heaven placing a glimmering and beautiful golden coin on top of a huge pile of other golden coins. Curious as to the meaning, the saint asked Jesus what this meant. Jesus in heaven had just heard Saint Gertrude pray a slow and fervent prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary; it was the HAIL MARY. Jesus explained: “Every time you pray the HAIL MARY to my Mother with love, I deposit another golden coin in the Treasury of Heaven for you forever.” Therefore, if we want to be multi-millionaires in heaven and attain the virtue of purity, let us pray often and with devotion the HAIL MARY!!!

7. IMITATE THE VIRTUES OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. Saint Ignatius offers us this dynamic in prayer: we come to know Jesus, to love Jesus, and to follow Jesus. We would like to add one more: to imitate Jesus, which culminates in the words of the Apostle Saint Paul: “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” (Gal 2:20) Saint Faustina loved Mary and tried to imitate her sublime virtues. Let us also strive to imitate Mary’s virtues! Saint Louis de Montfort, in his world classic True Devotion to Mary, lists ten of the virtues of Mary: “True devotion to Mary is holy, that is to say it leads us to avoid sin and to imitate the virtues of Mary. Her ten principle virtues are: deep humility, lively faith, blind obedience, unceasing prayer, constant self-denial, surpassing purity, ardent love, heroic patience, angelic kindness, and heavenly wisdom. (True Devotion to Mary, Saint Louis de Montfort, # 108)

8. BEAUTIFUL IMAGES OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. As Catholics we should take advantage of the proper use of images of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Statues, paintings, frescoes, icons, stained glass windows—all of these and many more are efficacious means to lift us up from the world and draw our passions to Jesus and Mary where our hearts may truly seek and find a safe haven, a sure refuge, a secure harbor! Two of the most powerful images in the history of Catholicism are the miraculous image of Our Lady of Guadalupe (1531, Mexico) and the image of Divine Mercy, Saint Faustina Kowalska, Poland. When we are in the presence of the pure, the holy, the sacred, the noble—this serves as a deterrent and roadblock from thinking, desiring, or even carrying out indecent gestures or actions!

9 THE MOST HOLY ROSARY. One of the favorite prayers of Saint Faustina and other saints is the most Holy Rosary. Actually, Saint Pope John Paul II said that it was his favorite prayer. When Our Lady appeared in 1917 in Fatima, in every one of her six Apparitions to the three shepherd children, she said insistently to pray the Rosary. Saint Pope John Paul II in his document on the Rosary, The Blessed Virgin Mary and the Rosary (2002), after the attacks of September 11, 2001, implored the world to turn to the Blessed Virgin Mary and pray the most Holy Rosary! The Holy Pontiff offered two specific intentions: 1) for World Peace; 2) for the Family. This resonates with the two famous proverbs of the Rosary priest, Ven. Father Patrick Peyton: “The family that prays together, stays together.” And, “A world at prayer is a world at peace.” Therefore, if we want to conquer the powerful enemy that is lust, the devil that prowls around like a roaring lion to devour us (1Pt 5:8), then we must have in our hands the most Holy Rosary every day, and if possible, even more than once a day! David conquered Goliath with a slingshot. Our spiritual slingshot is the fervent and frequent prayer—THE MOST HOLY ROSARY!

10. LIVE IN THE PRESENCE OF MARY!!! A few years ago many Catholics wore a wristband with the letters WWJD—meaning, WHAT WOULD JESUS DO? There should be a new gold and white wristband with the letters WWJMD!!! This time the meaning and interpretation is WHAT WOULD JESUS AND MARY DO??? It is so true that if we live constantly under the loving gaze of Jesus, Mary, and Saint Joseph, then we will live lives of purity, innocence, holiness, and attain the whole purpose and meaning of our short life on earth—to get to heaven!!! May the constant and loving gaze of Mary most holy, the Queen of Virgins, and the Queen of all Hearts, attain for us an ardent desire to live out that Beatitude: “Blessed are the pure of heart, for they will see God.” (Mt 5:8)

In conclusion, it is our most ardent desire and prayer that all will approach the Sacred Heart of Jesus through the most pure and Immaculate Heart of Mary. And that through your faithful and constant growth in love for Mary, you may attain purity of mind, memory, thought, word, deed, intention, desire, and actions and thereby merit the crown of eternal life. Amen.

 

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

Friday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time

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

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23rd… Lk.12: 54-59 Jesus said to the crowds, “You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret this present time?”

Part 1: Reading the Sign that is Christ in our World… by Saint Pope John Paul II
Part 2: TEN WAYS TO FALL IN LOVE WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT… by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

Reading the Sign that is Christ in Our World! Saint Pope John Paul II – Victory Square Warsaw (June 2, 1979) BBC Report

Have we not the right to think that one must come to this very place, to this land, on this route, to read again the witness of His cross and His Resurrection? But if we accept all that I have dared to affirm in this moment, how many great duties and obligations arise? Are we capable of them?

The Church brought Christ, the key to understanding that great and fundamental reality that is man. For man cannot be fully understood without Christ. Or rather, man is incapable of understanding himself fully without Christ. He cannot understand who he is, nor what his true dignity is, nor what his vocation is, nor what his final end is. He cannot understand any of this without Christ.

Therefore, Christ cannot be kept out of the history of man in any part of the globe, at any longitude or latitude of geography. The exclusion of Christ from the history of man is an act against man!

The history of the nation is above all the history of people. And the history of each person unfolds in Jesus Christ. In Him it becomes the history of salvation. The history of the nation deserves to be adequately appraised in the light of its contribution to the development of man and humanity, to intellect, heart, and conscience. This is the deepest stream of culture. It is culture’s firmest support, its core, its strength. If we reject this key to understanding our nation, we lay ourselves open to a substantial misunderstanding. We no longer understand ourselves.

All that, I embrace in thought and in my heart during this Eucharist, and I include it in this unique most holy sacrifice of Christ on Victory Square.

And I cry from all the depths of this Millennium… Let your Spirit descend. Again, let your Spirit descend. And renew the face of the earth, the face of this land. Amen.

TEN WAYS TO FALL IN LOVE WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

The Gift of Gifts, the Sanctifier, the Interior Master, the Finger of God, Paraclete, Sweet Guest of the soul, the bond of love between Father and Son, Consoler and Counselor, the Soul-life giving principle of the Church, the Light from on high—all of these are descriptive titles of the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the most Blessed Trinity.

Let us venture into deep waters as we strive to get to know, to fall in love and establish a deep and dynamic rapport and relationship with the Holy Spirit. He desires to enter into deep communion and friendship with you, as soon as you open your mind and heart to His Presence. Now is the time!

THRUST AND PURPOSE OF THIS ESSAY.  The thrust and purpose of this short essay is to help us become more familiar with the often Forgotten Person of the Most Blessed Trinity: The Holy Spirit. Our growth in holiness, our sanctification, our salvation depends upon many things, but of primary importance is our intimate union and friendship with the Holy Spirit who desires very much to be our most intimate and best Friend!

1. ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. This book of the Bible, following the Gospels, containing twenty-eight chapters and attributed to Saint Luke, is a spiritual masterpiece to say the least! However, of capital importance in reading and meditating upon this book that is read during the 50 days of the Easter Season, is the presence of the Holy Spirit. It has actually been called “The Gospel of the Holy Spirit.”  Therefore, open up the text, and read and meditate upon it prayerfully.

2. UNDERLINE OR HIGHLIGHT REFERENCES TO THE HOLY SPIRIT. During the course of your perusal and meditation on the Acts of the Apostles, you might underline, highlight, or even copy into your notebook all the different references made about the Holy Spirit. With that, reflect upon the different ways that the Holy Spirit acts or operates according to the specific context. This will serve to help you come to know the Holy Spirit better and become more cognizant of His workings in the early Church, in individuals, and how He can work in your own spiritual life!

3. PRAY OFTEN TO THE HOLY SPIRIT. There are many prayers that can be said to the Holy Spirit; try to memorize at least one of these prayers and pray it often. Learn the classical or traditional prayer to the Holy Spirit:
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle within us the fire of your divine love.
V: Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created,
R: And you shall renew the face of the earth.
Let us pray: O God, who did instruct the hearts of your faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant us that we might be truly wise and always rejoice in His consolation, through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

4. GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. Get to know the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit and beg the Holy Spirit that these Heavenly Gifts will become more and more active or operative in your daily life. The following are the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Piety, and Fear of the Lord. Six of them are found in the writings of the Prophet Isaiah. Pray the following prayer that I myself wrote for the Gifts of the Holy Spirit…

PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT … by Father Edward Broom, OMV

Come Holy Spirit, come, fill my heart with your heavenly love. Enlighten my mind so that I may know the Truth, live the Truth, and be willing to die for the Truth.

Come Holy Spirit, come, in the dark and lonely moments of my life come to console me and comfort me. You who are the Sweet Guest of the soul, make me aware of your constant and living presence, so that I recognize that I am never alone because you are with me as a Faithful Friend.

Come Holy Spirit, come, you who are the Interior Master, teach me how to pray. I do not know how to pray well. I implore you to intercede for me with ineffable groans so that I can cry out: “Abba, Father!”

Come Holy Spirit, come, in moments of doubt and confusion, be my light and counselor. Help me to make decisions, not according to my will but according to your holy will.

Come Holy Spirit, come, in moments of weakness, give me strength. You who are the courage and strength of the martyrs, obtain for me interior strength to fight against sin, my fallen human nature, and anything that is not pleasing to you.

Come Holy Spirit, come, grant me a filial love for you and a sincere love for my neighbor, especially for those I live with and meet every day. Set my heart on fire with love.

Come Holy Spirit, come, sanctify me with your presence. You who are the sanctifier, attain for me an ardent yearning for holiness of life. “Be holy as your heavenly Father is holy.” May I attain holiness of life so as to attain the promise of eternal life.

Come Holy Spirit, come, produce in me a reverential fear that motivates me to avoid all that is displeasing to you, and to avoid any persons, places, things, or circumstances that could damage my friendship with you.

Come Mary, Mystical Spouse of the Holy Spirit, Temple of the Holy Spirit, you who had the most intimate and constant union with the Holy Spirit, pray for me so that my knowledge and love of the Holy Spirit will grow daily until I am with you forever in heaven, worshiping forever the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.  

5. BEG THE HOLY SPIRIT TO MAKE YOU A SAINT. One of the many titles given to the Holy Spirit is the Sanctifier—which means: to make one holy. Vatican II, Chapter V of Lumen Gentium asserts the universal call to holiness. All of us, despite our age, culture, condition, or specific vocation, are called to become great saints. Jesus states this clearly with these words: “Be holy as your heavenly Father is holy.” (Mt. 5:48) Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta expressed the universal call to holiness as such: “Holiness is not the privilege of the few, but the duty of all.” Saint Pope John XXIII added: “The saints are the masterpieces of the Holy Spirit.” Therefore, with all the energy of your heart and fiber of your being humbly beg the Holy Spirit to make you a saint!!!

6. THE SIGN OF THE CROSS: THE TRINITY AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. Our prayers and prayer gestures can become commonplace, mechanical, perfunctory, and nonchalant. This can easily become the case when we start all of our prayers with the Sign of the Cross. Perhaps it is time to stop and reflect upon the meaning of the Sign of the Cross related to God, related to the Trinity, related to the cross of Christ that wrought our redemption, and related to the Person of the Holy Spirit. It could be helpful to recall upon making the Sign of the Cross that you are truly a living and vibrant Temple of the Holy Spirit. Saint Paul exhorts us: “Glorify God in your body.” (1Cor 6:20)

7. IN TIMES OF TRIAL AND AFFLCITION CALL UPON THE HOLY SPIRIT. A most compelling and beautiful example of the powerful Presence of the Person and action of the Holy Spirit occurs in one of the trials of Saint Joan of Arc. (Read Saint Joan of Arc written by Mark Twain.) The maid of Orleans is being tried as a heretic and will eventually be burned at the stake, when she is asked this trick question: “Are you in the state of grace?” Enlightened and moved by the Holy Spirit, the saint responds: “If I am, thanks be to God; if I am not, may God put me there!” Bingo!!! Without time to reflect and study, the Holy Spirit with great alacrity inspired her with a response that even the greatest of theologians could not have surpassed!

8. READ CLASSICS ON THE HOLY SPIRIT. Make an intellectual effort to apply your mind to study one or more of the classics on the Holy Spirit. It is often the case that we do not know basic truths about our Catholic faith due to mental lethargy, mental laziness, mental inertia. Let us fight against a lazy mind! The following are some suggestions for your intellectual pursuit. “In the School of the Holy Spirit” by Jacques Philippe. The Sanctifier by former Archbishop of Mexico City, Luis Martinez. Catechism of the Catholic Church referring to the Holy Spirit #683-747. The Spiritual Life by Adolphe Tanqueray #1307-1357. The Summa Theologica of Saint Thomas Aquinas – Primer Pars, Questions 36. Finally, the Encyclical of Pope Saint John Paul II on the Holy Spirit, Dominum et Vivificantem, May 18, 1986. These sources should keep you busy at least over the weekend!

9. SACRAMENTAL THEOLOGY AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. The Holy Spirit’s role is essential in the Church which is the Mystical Body of Christ. Jesus is the Head of the Mystical Body; we are the members of His Body. But what about the role and Presence of the Holy Spirit? His role is key, to say the least! The Holy Spirit is actually and truly THE SOUL OF THE CHURCH!!! In philosophy the soul is defined as “the life-giving principle—that which gives life!  Without our soul we are dead, a corpse. Without the Holy Spirit, the Church cannot exist. It is the Holy Spirit who gives life to the Church and all of its members! Here is a study for you to undertake! In the administration of the Sacraments, how often does the presence of the Holy Spirit come into play??? Much more than we are aware of!!! Read the Catechism of the Catholic Church #1091-1109.

10. MARY AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. Finally, let us invoke Mary most Holy and beg for her intercession that we might be more open and docile to the workings of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The Blessed Virgin Mary was at all times and places open to the workings and operations of the Holy Spirit.  However, the Holy Spirit intervened in three key moments in the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary: The Immaculate Conception, the Virginal Conception, and Pentecost—the birthday of the Church. A word on each. In the Immaculate Conception of Mary in the womb of her mother Saint Anne, Mary was preserved from the stain of Original Sin by the working of the Holy Spirit. In the Virginal Conception, Jesus was conceived in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary through the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit. In Hebrew the Shekinah—the Overshadowing. Finally, fifty days after the Resurrection of Jesus, the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles, but through the presence, fasting, prayers, and good example of the Blessed Virgin Mary. For that reason, Saint Louis de Montfort enthusiastically asserts: “Those who love Mary, the Holy Spirit flings Himself into their souls.” Mary is the Daughter of God the Father, the Mother of God the Son, and the Mystical Spouse of the Holy Spirit. To love the Blessed Virgin Mary is to open a floodgate of graces and the powerful invasion of the Holy Spirit in your life. Let us pray often: “Come Holy Spirit, come through the Heart of Mary.”

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

Thursday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Saint John Paul II, Pope

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

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22nd    Lk. 12: 49-53 Jesus said to his disciples: “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! There is a baptism with which I much be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished!”

In our reflection, we honor and offer thanksgiving for today’s Saint who occupied the Papacy for 26 years, from October 16, 1978 until his death on April 2, 2005. In imitation of Christ, Saint Pope John Paul II set the earth on fire! Like Christ, he experienced a baptism of suffering! Pope Saint Pope John Paul II, pray for us!!!

SAINT POPE JOHN PAUL II—JOHN PAUL THE GREAT!!! By: Father Ed Broom, OMV

 Of all of the many graces that God has bestowed on me, I would have to consider and thank God most abundantly for the gift of the Priesthood, but also the unique, unmerited, and humbling experience of having been ordained by one of the greatest men in the history of the world—POPE SAINT JOHN PAUL II—JOHN PAUL THE GREAT!!!

Yes, it is true. I had the unique privilege of being under the holy hands of the Bishop of Rome, the future saint, John Paul II on May 25^th, 1986, which was a Sunday and the Solemnity of the Most Blessed Trinity, in which we praise the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

In all truth, I can say that I have a holy head and holy hair because I was touched, blessed, and ordained by the hands of Pope Saint John Paul II. How abundant God truly is in His enormous blessings. I am a living third class relic!

The following day, after celebrating my first Mass by myself (actually my first Mass was after ordination with Pope Saint John Paul II and the many other Bishops and newly ordained priests), I had the privilege of meeting with Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta, both blessing her and then Mother kissing my hands!

So within not much more than 24 hours, I had the unique privilege of meeting with two of the greatest towering figures and modern saints—Pope Saint John Paul II and Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Without a doubt, a time in my life that I will never forget—meeting with the two greatest missionaries in the 20^th Century!

In gratitude for so many blessings, as we celebrated on May 18^th, 2020, the 100^th Anniversary of the birth of Pope Saint John Paul II, whose name was Karol Wojtyla, I would like to render this great man of God homage by highlighting and thanking God for ten of his almost countless accomplishments for the Church and for the world at large.

1. TOTUS TUUS!  This great pontiff started off his pontificate by consecrating his service to the Church with a very special emblem or motto: TOTUS TUUS—Totally Yours (Mary)! This comes from the great Marian Saint, Louis de Montfort, who left us a sure and powerful path of consecration to Jesus through Mary, True Devotion to Mary, as well as his literary classic on the Rosary, The Secret of the Rosary. John Paul II wanted to receive a special protection from Mary whom he loved as Mother, Guide, Star of the Sea, and Star of the New Evangelization. Upon his numerous papal visits throughout the world, he would often seek out the Marian Sanctuary and pay tribute and honor to Mary in that sacred place. No surprise that the most visited place in his pontificate outside of Italy was Mexico, where he visited the famous shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe several times.

2. CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.  Never have we lived in a time, place and epoch with so much information. However, at the same time, never have we lived in a world with so much confusion, a true mass of confusion, and this sadly is applicable with respect to doctrinal and moral truth. For that reason, possibly the greatest literary accomplishment of John Paul II was the promulgation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. This literary masterpiece explains clearly the four pillars of Catholic Truth: 1. Dogma—Who God is and His attributes; 2. Morality—the Ten Commandments; 3) The Sacraments—Channels of Grace and Sanctification; 4. Prayer—Union and Friendship in conversation with God.

3. WORLD YOUTH DAY.  It was John Paul II who called meetings with the youth throughout the world. One even took place in Denver, Colorado in 1993, the first WYD held in either North America or an English-speaking nation. Catholic News Agency (CNA) reported: “As the registrations started coming in, it went to 150,000,” said Archbishop Dennis Schnurr of Cincinnati, who served as national director for Denver’s WYD. “The final registration was 500,000. We know there were walk-ons, particularly for the final Mass. It was 750,000 people there.” Who would have ever believed that an elderly man dressed in white could attract thousands upon thousands of youth, be viewed by millions, and generate an enthusiasm that shook the very foundations of the modern materialistic, hedonistic, and sensual culture in which modern humanity is so deeply immersed!

4. CANONIZATIONS AND BEATIFICATIONS.  We are all called to become saints. Lumen Gentium, Chapter V, exhorts all with “The Universal call to holiness”. All of us are called to be holy, all of us are called to become saints, as Jesus so clearly reminds us: “Be holy as your heavenly Father is holy.” (Mt. 5:48) However, it is worthy of mention to list ten of the most renowned figures or persons who were canonized during the 26-year Pontificate of John Paul II.

Here is the list: 1. Saint Pio of Pietrelcina—known as Padre Pio. 2. Saint Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer—Founder of the Opus Dei Movement. 3. Saint Faustina Kowalska, the first saint to be canonized in the new Millennium, known as the Secretary of Divine Mercy. 4. Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross—Jewish convert to Catholicism, Carmelite nun, and martyr in Auschwitz (Like Kolbe). 5. Saint Katharine Drexel, an American saint who gave of her riches to find her treasure in God. 6. Saint Maximilian Kolbe—the Martyr of charity, who chose the two crowns that Mary offered him. 7. Saint Gianna Beretta Molla, who sacrificed her life for her baby in the womb; 8. Saint Juan Diego—the Apostle of Our Lady of Guadalupe; 9. Blessed Jacinta Marto—The Little Victim Soul. 10. Blessed Francisco Marto—The Little Mystic. (Jacinta and Francisco were two of the three visionaries of Our Lady of Fatima. Pope Francis canonized them Saints on May 13, 2017.) By beatifying and canonizing so many from all walks of life—Religious, priests, and Lay-people, John Paul II highlighted and exhorted all of us to pursue true holiness of life.

5. THEOLOGY OF THE BODY.  No doubt one of the greatest accomplishments in moral theology was the teaching of John Paul II on the Theology of the Body. In 1968, Pope Saint Paul VI published one of the most explosive and controversial Encyclicals in the history of the Church, Humanae Vitae. In this explosive document, Paul VI stated unequivocally that human sexuality must be open to the possibility of life, to procreation, and that any form of artificial means of contraception is intrinsically disordered. The Magisterial Teaching of John Paul II developed in greater detail this true understanding of human sexuality. Either the human person is viewed as an object to be exploited, used, and discarded or the human person is respected, loved, and cherished for their innate dignity and eternal destiny. The great Pontiff was giving a series of teachings on these great truths during his Wednesday Papal audiences, but this was interrupted by the attempted assassination May 13, 1981.

6. MERCY AND FORGIVENESS.  If you were to ask anybody about one of the most important memories of John Paul II, most likely many would call to mind the day and the moment that he was shot and almost killed on May 13, 1981. (The same month and date as the first Apparition of Our Lady of Fatima in 1917.) After his recovery in that same year of 1981, John Paul II was seen in the prison cell embracing and forgiving the man who had planned and attempted to kill the great pontiff. This would turn out to be one of the most powerful icons or images of mercy and forgiveness in the history of the world. The words of Jesus as He hung on the cross resonate far and wide in this gesture of John Paul II: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing.” (Lk. 23:34)

7. SAINT FAUSTINA AND DIVINE MERCY.  As mentioned earlier, the first canonization of John Paul II in the new Millennium was that of his compatriot from Poland who lived contemporaneously with him and Kolbe, Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska. It was heard that this day, April 30^th, 2000 was the happiest day in the life of John Paul II. The reason? He both canonized Saint Faustina and officially instituted the Solemnity of Divine Mercy—the second Sunday after Easter, the crown and culmination of the Easter Octave! John Paul II felt that one of his primary missions was to promote far and wide the urgent need to be merciful and to trust in God’s infinite mercy.

8. MISSION OF THE REDEEMER.  Pope Saint John Paul II and Saint Mother Teresa can be seen as the two greatest Missionaries in the world in the twentieth century. Never in the history of the world was a man so visible and never had a Pope traveled so many miles, circling the globe several times in distance, visiting so many diverse places, and offering so many different talks. In his Encyclical, “Mission of the Redeemer” (1990), John Paul II stated with utmost clarity and urgency that all the baptized have an urgent call and vocation to be missionaries—to bring the Word and Person of Jesus to the whole world. The last words of Jesus were a missionary mandate: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, until the end of the world.” (Mt. 28:19-20)

9. HIS ENCYCLICAL AND TEACHINGS.  Nobody can doubt that John Paul II was one of the greatest teachers in the history of Catholicism, even in the history of the world. One day he will be declared a Doctor of the Church—for the depth and spiritual profundity of his Magisterium. For sake of brevity, we will list only ten of his most renowned writings with the hope of delving into the immense ocean of his sublime teaching:

• The Redeemer of Man (1979)—His first Papal Encyclical which set the stage for his intensely Christological Pontificate. Christ the Redeemer of man reveals man to himself, his dignity as well as his eternal destiny.

• Rich in Mercy (1980)—Encyclical. Emphasizing the greatest attribute in the Heart of Jesus—His mercy. This is taught by means of an explanation of the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Lk. 15:11-32), that could correctly be called, “The Parable of the Merciful Father!”

• The Gospel of Life (1995)—Encyclical. Condemns the worst moral evil of our day—abortion, killing of the innocent child in the womb. The Ignatian Two Standards comes into play: “The Gospel of Life against the Culture of Death.”

• Faith and Reason (1998)—Encyclical. God calls us to a deep faith in His presence but we are also to use reason as a means to arrive at God. The two do not contradict each other, but rather they complement each other. Saint Thomas Aquinas can be our model.

• Reconciliation and Penance (1984)—Apostolic Exhortation. The loss of the sense of sin and the call to return to God through the practice of Sacramental Confession.

• Familiaris Consortio (1981)—Apostolic Exhortation. The essential value of the family as the Domestic Church and as the basic cell of society. The future of the world depends on the future of the family.

• On the Dignity and Vocation of Women (1988)—Apostolic Letter. The woman has great dignity and value, and carries out a fundamental role in the world and in evangelization.

• The Salvific Value of Suffering (1984)—Apostolic Letter. Human suffering has infinite value, especially when it is united to the suffering of Jesus. We must learn to sanctify our own suffering.

• The Church and the Eucharist (2003)—Encyclical. The source and summit of the Christian-Catholic life is the Eucharist—the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus. This is found in the context of the Mystical Body of Christ, the Church.

• Mary: Mother of the Redeemer (1987)—Encyclical. Christ is the only Redeemer, but Mary helped Him in the work of Redemption; she collaborated with Him, especially as she stood at the foot of the cross.

10. HIS DEATH: A MODEL FOR ALL OF US AS EARTHLY PILGRIMS. At the end of his life, Pope Saint John Paul II’s health declined and deteriorated, especially in the last five years of his life. However, he taught the world an invaluable lesson: aging, suffering, and offering one’s human limitations has infinite value in the eyes of God! Jesus is our supreme Model in all times and places, but especially as He suffered and died on the cross for the salvation of all of humanity. Pope Saint John Paul II died on April 2^nd, 2005, in the evening at about 9:00 p.m. It was the First Saturday of the month, dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima, but most important, it was the Vigil of the Solemnity of Divine Mercy Sunday. He died in the arms of Mary and was received into the Merciful Embrace of the Eternal Father and the Eternal Home of Heaven.

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

Wednesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21^st  Lk. 12: 39-48 “You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of man will come.”

Part 1: Judgment before Jesus…  The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius… Author Anon.
Part 2: PERSEVERANCE IN OUR RACE TOWARDS HEAVEN! By Fr. Ed Broom

JUDGMENT BEFORE JESUS… Reflections taken from The Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius, anon. (Imprimatur 20 May 1914)

The devil will be there to accuse us, reminding us that he never sweat blood for us, he never was scourged or crowned with thorns for us, he was not suspended on the cross for one moment for us – yet how many times we served him instead of serving Jesus, committing sin after sin, betraying Jesus, our Lord and Savior, who willingly suffered and died for us.

Our guardian angel will be there to speak of the good we did. But in justice he must also speak of the times we rejected his inspirations, ignored his counsels, sullied his looks by our sins which he witnessed. Of the times he saved us from a fatal accident when we were in a state of mortal sin. Of the times he suffered to see our tepidity in prayer, our perfunctory reception of the Eucharist or worse, reception profaned by sacrilege. Of the times we were too self-absorbed to respond to the needs of those around us.

The guardian angels of other souls will be there to reproach us for our bad example to their charges, leading them into sin and putting their eternal salvation at risk.

Our own consciences will place our whole lives before our eyes. We will see clearly the arrogant disobedience of our many sins, the opportunities to do good we wasted, the pride and vanity that tarnished the good we accomplished.

Mercy is for this life! At our judgement our merciful Lord will appear as our Judge.

Infinitely Holy, He has an infinite horror of every sin, however small. Omniscient, there is no sin so small, so secret, that He does not know it and will reveal it.

What is our defense, how can we answer our accusers? Will we excuse ourselves by our ignorance? We will be opposed by the lights of our conscience which we suppressed, and which we had a responsibility to inform by the Gospel and the instructions of the Church and her ordained ministers.

Will we excuse ourselves by our weakness? We will be opposed by the strength of grace sufficient in every trial. Will we excuse ourselves by our temptations? We will be opposed by the means God gave us to overcome them – prayer, fasting, the Sacraments, good works.

Will we excuse ourselves by the scandal of the lives of others that led us astray? We will be opposed by the holy example of the saints and of faithful souls around us that ought to have strengthened us in virtue.

Finally, leaving all excuses behind, will we have recourse to the intercession of holy Mary and the saints, and to the mercy of Jesus Christ? The Blessed Virgin and the saints can no longer do anything for us! And Jesus is now the God of justice, not the God of mercy!

PART 2:

PERSEVERANCE IN OUR RACE TOWARDS HEAVEN! By Fr. Ed Broom. OMV

There is a fabulous scene in the movie-classic Chariots of Fire, where the hero of the film, Eric Liddle, is running the 400 against another three sprinters. Almost at the start of the race, the runner next to Liddle elbows him. Cascading to the ground, Liddle raises his gaze contemplating the runner’s kick up dust.

Two options: either throw in the towel and call it quits; or spring to his feet, gun it, and go for the victory. Liddle chose the latter. With all the energy in every fiber of his strong athletic body, Liddle pours it on. Passing one, he then passes another, but the runner that knocked him to the ground stills has the lead. Not for long! Eric Liddle gives it one last burst of tremendous effort and he breaks through the finish line winning by a split-second, collapsing and plunging to the ground. Panting and panting like a fish out of water, his opponent vanquished, the victory is won by Eric Liddle.

One of the trainers commented: Indeed, it was not the prettiest victory, but it most certainly was the most valiant, the most courageous! Against all odds, due to sheer determination, will power and guts, Eric Liddle won the 400 and eventually would win the same title and the Gold Medal in the Olympic Games in France at the beginning of the 20^th Century!

Brought up and raised in the social milieu and cultural context of the Greek Olympic Games, Saint Paul with a certain frequency alludes to athletic feats or events related to sports competitions. The two most common sports competitions mentioned by the Apostle to the Gentiles would be that of boxing—we are called to fight the good fight; and then the race/marathon. Paul challenges us to run the good race and receive the merited crown awaiting the victor.

In another passage Paul encourages the followers of Christ to strive not for a crown that perishes, but the crown that will last for eternal life. In other words, earthly victory and gain is like a laurel wreath placed on our head; it will soon dry up, wither and perish. Our eternal crown in heaven will never perish but shine forever!

The great Moral Theologian and Doctor of the Church, Saint Alphonsus Liguori asserts the following: “The grace of all graces is to die in the state of grace.” Meaning? If we can appreciate grace, live in the state of grace, grow in grace, and end our race on earth in the state of grace, then we will have won the final race and attained our eternal salvation.

Indeed, on a daily basis we should implore, beg, supplicate the Lord Jesus, His Heavenly Mother Mary, the angels and saints for the grace of all graces—to die in the state of grace. No greater grace exists in the world! This we must beg for ourselves, our family, our loved ones and for the whole world! Lord, grant us this grace of all graces!

Therefore, this being the case on the scale of eternal realities, we would like to warmly exhort all to undertake five specific practices so that all can attain the grace of all graces—to die in the state of grace and attain eternal salvation!

1. LIVE EACH DAY AS IF IT WERE YOUR LAST. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ never promised us another year, another month, another week, another day, another hour, nor even another second. The life we live and the moment we die is totally uncertain. We might live another 25 years, but we might live another 25 seconds. This depends on the mysterious designs of God.

2. EXIT FROM MORTAL SIN IMMEDIATELY! If your house was on fire at night, obviously you would not wait until dawn to call the firefighters! In mortal sin, our spiritual house is on fire and we should extinguish the flames first by making a Perfect Act of Contrition immediately, and then by having recourse to Sacramental Confession as soon as possible. Do not play Russian-Roulette with your eternal salvation!

3. FERVENT, FREQUENT AND FIERY COMMUNIONS. As often as possible attend Holy Mass. In the state of grace receive Jesus in Holy Communion. However, with great fervor! Receive the Eucharistic Lord Jesus as if it were your First Holy Communion, your Last Holy Communion, and your Only Holy Communion. The Lord wants fervor and love in your receptions!

4. DO WHAT YOU ARE DOING FOR GOD ALONE. The secret of the saints is living out what is sometimes called The Sacrament of the Present Moment. Meaning this: live each day, each hour and minute of your day, with the intention of pleasing God, praising God, saving souls, and sanctifying your own soul. Purity of intention in all that we say and do is very important for God and for growing in holiness of life. Saint Paul asserts: “Whether you eat or drink, do all for the honor and glory of God.” (1 Cor. 10:31) Saint Ignatius’ theme is the four letters: A.M.D.G.—All for the greater glory of God! Saint Therese expressed it as such: “Holiness does not depend on doing big things but on doing the ordinary things of daily life with extraordinary love.”

5. THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY: THE HAIL MARY AND THE HOLY ROSARY. Finally, as a sure anchor for our eternal salvation, we turn to the Blessed Virgin Mary. As we pray in the Memorare: “Never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection was left unaided.” The prayer that can be of untold value so as to attain the grace of all graces, to die in the state of grace and attain our eternal salvation, is the Hail Mary, better yet the Hail Mary prayed 50 + times; we call it the most Holy Rosary. If we can pray this powerful weapon on a daily basis, praying fervently: “pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death”, no doubt the Blessed Virgin Mary will be present in our last and dying moments praying fervently for our soul and helping us to repent of our sins, trust in God’s mercy, and end by loving God. Heaven will be ours. The grace of all graces will be ours!

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

Tuesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time

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

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20^TH   Lk. 12: 35-38   “Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.”

1. Jesus commands us to be vigilant! The enemy never sleeps! He is constantly on the prowl to blind us to the error of our ways and bind us in ways that are sinful! The prophet says, “The rash man has no integrity; but the righteous man shall live by his faithfulness.” Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta says, “The capacity for faithfulness makes saints!”
2. To assist us in our faithfulness to God and His will for us expressed in the circumstances of our everyday lives, Saint Ignatius exhorts us to pray the Daily Examen Prayer. It can be done at any time of the day looking back over the last 24 hours.
3. “Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.” The practice of the Daily Examen Prayer done with humility and honesty makes us vigilant and prepared, ao we can walk in the freedom, peace, and joy of the Sons and Daughters of God!

IGNATIAN DAILY EXAMEN: A Sure Bridge to Holiness! By Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

Saint Ignatius insisted on never neglecting the Daily Examen. For no reason whatsoever would this great saint justify skipping over and neglecting this all important prayer. Starting now, why not make a proposal to make your own personal Daily Examen. If done, the fruits are countless and the blessings copious from such a tool, an indispensable tool to erect a solid structure for a life of authentic holiness.

In this brief essay we will highlight and briefly explain the five classical steps of making the Daily Examen. Then, as a means for motivation, we will highlight some of the blessings that will descend upon you in your spiritual life.

If you read through essays, writings, articles and even books on this topic, the order and words vary, but the concept never changes. The key element is that the Daily Examen should be proposed by all those with good will and put into practice. Let’s go!

THE FIVE CLASSICAL STEPS FOR THE IGNATIAN DAILY EXAMEN

 1. RECALL THE PRESENCE OF GOD.  First Step. All authentic prayer starts with calling to mind the all-abiding Presence of God. We are never far from God, and God is never far from us! Saint Paul, quoting the Greek poet, expresses it as such: “In Him we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28) Therefore, start your Daily Examen by gently calling to mind the all-abiding, all-permeating presence of God. God is present in all times, all places, all circumstances, and all events. Even when our life seems to be a dark night of the soul, God is as present as the sun shining at midday! Add to this that our God is a loving Father who always desires what is best for His children. Therefore, we should respond with trust, confidence, and love.

2. GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD FOR HE IS GOOD; HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER!  Second Step. Saint Ignatius insists on the importance of gratitude. We should cultivate an attitude of gratitude. Saint Ignatius states that the very essence of sin is ingratitude—a lack of rendering to God a heartfelt thanks! In all humility, every gift that we have in our life—intellectual, athletic, artistic, spiritual, supernatural, etc.—all are gifts from the Father of all gifts. Therefore, rewind the film of your life since your last Daily Examen to see what you have been gifted with and allow your heart to expand in an overflowing act of thanksgiving. In a word, all that we have (except for our sins that we willfully chose and God allowed) are gratuitous gifts from our all-bountiful Heavenly Father. Indeed, God loves a grateful heart and is ready and willing to shower thankful hearts with more and more blessings! How much Jesus suffered when after healing ten lepers, only one came back to pay Him thanks!

3. BEG GOD TO SEND THE HOLY SPIRIT TO SEE YOURSELF AS GOD SEES YOU. Third step in your Daily Examen is to beg for the Gift of Gifts, the Holy Spirit to shed light on your intellect, to help you rewind the past block of time—your past day! Humility is truth, and you want to beg in all honestly to see what you have done, but even beyond the exterior actions, you want to beg for the grace to see even your interior intentions. We should never forget that man can see the surface, the mere exterior, but God can read our hearts and even our most hidden intentions.

4. GRATITUDE AND REPENTANCE.  Fourth Step. During the Examen most likely you will become aware of God’s incredible goodness and His many gifts; give thanks to God for His blessings. However, in all sincerity and truth the Holy Spirit will also point out some actions, and even some intentions, that were off the mark and not pleasing to God. Only God is perfect and the Bible teaches us that the just man falls seven times a day. Be aware of these moral failures and beg forgiveness.

5. RESOLUTION, RECONCILIATION, AND RENEWAL.  The last step points to the future. With a keen awareness of God’s infinite love for us and His infinite goodness in giving us so much, but also aware of our own human weakness, we propose to love God more every day starting right now, and to avoid any person, place, thing, or circumstance that can lead us off the path of true discipleship of the Lord. In other words, the Daily Examen heightens our awareness and self-knowledge and can serve as a preventive medicine. If we know where the pit-fall is in our path, we can sidestep it or simply jump over it! The desert Fathers insist on a two-word axiom: KNOW-THYSELF!!!

NOW THE BENEFITS OF PRACTICING THE DAILY EXAMEN, which are incalculable! We will mention only three!

1. CONSTANT AWARENESS OF GOD AND PRAYER.  If the Daily Examen is done faithfully—that is to say, on a daily basis, with hard work and good will we will become more and more aware of God’s loving presence in our lives. God is not some distant, ethereal, mythical figure of the past and He will become all the more real to us. If you like, He will become your Best Friend, always at your side. The truth is, we are never alone! Jesus is our Best Friend who wants us to share every moment of our existence with Him. Because of this, we will sin less. Saint Teresa of Avila asserts that one of the primary reasons for sin is becoming oblivious to the all abiding Presence of God!

2. AVOID PITFALLS!  With a more acute awareness of the intentions and movements of our heart, which is like a garden that has both beautiful flowers and ugly weeds, we can avoid giving in to our bad tendencies. When the bad spirit is knocking at the door of our heart, we can close the door with lock and key! Many sins are committed due to weakness of the will, but also due to ignorance of who is knocking at our door! The Daily Examen heightens awareness of the tactics of the enemy, as well as self-knowledge, key components for growth in holiness!

3, COMPASSION TOWARDS OTHERS.  The Daily Examen is like shining a daily floodlight on our heart, our soul, and the inner workings of our conscience. We become aware of how good and loving God really is. However, with a penetrating awareness, we become cognizant of how weak we really are at times, and how prone to slip and fall into the mire of our own sinfulness. This keen self-knowledge can help us to be more kind, patient, and compassionate with our struggling brothers and sisters! God allows what is evil to bring greater good from the evil!

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