Memorial of Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues,
Priests, and Companions, Martyrs

MONDAY, OCTOBER 19th  Lk. 12: 13-21    “You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong.”

• Jesus says to us, “Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich in what matters to God.” We overcome a vice – greed, by practicing the opposite virtue – generosity.
• John Chrysostom speaks strongly and directly to this parable: “Not to share one’s wealth with the poor is to steal from them and to take away their livelihood. It is not our own goods which we hold, but theirs”.
• Pope Francis’ explanation of Almsgiving: “It is a sign of gratuity because alms are given to someone from whom you would not expect to receive anything in return. Gratuity should be one of the characteristics of a Christian, who, aware of having received everything from God freely, that is without any merit, learns to give to others freely. Almsgiving helps us to live the gratuitousness of the gift, which is freedom from the obsession with possessing things, freedom from the fear of losing what one has, from the sadness of those who do not want to share their well-being with others.”
• Pope Francis ties Almsgiving to Prayer: “With more intense, more diligent prayer, one is more able to take care of the needs of the brethren, to intercede before God for the many situations of poverty and suffering.”
• Then Pope Francis ties Almsgiving to Fasting: “Fasting makes sense if it really affects our security, and also if a benefit to others comes from it, if it helps us to grow in the spirit of the Good Samaritan, who bends down to his brother in need and takes care of him. Fasting involves choosing a sober life, which does not waste, which does not ‘discard’. Fasting helps us to train the heart to essentiality and sharing. It is a sign of awareness and responsibility in the face of injustices, abuses, especially towards the poor and the little ones, and is a sign of our trust in God and His providence.”
• Joy of the Gospel 197. Special Place of the Poor in the Heart of Christ. God’s heart has a special place for the poor, so much so that he himself “became poor” (2 Cor 8:9). The entire history of our redemption is marked by the presence of the poor. Salvation came to us from the “yes” uttered by a lowly maiden from a small town on the fringes of a great empire. The Savior was born in a manger, in the midst of animals, like children of poor families; he was presented at the Temple along with two turtledoves, the offering made by those who could not afford a lamb (cf. Lk 2:24; Lev 5:7); he was raised in a home of ordinary workers and worked with his own hands to earn his bread. When he began to preach the Kingdom, crowds of the dispossessed followed him, illustrating his words: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor” (Lk 4:18). He assured those burdened by sorrow and crushed by poverty that God has a special place for them in his heart: “Blessed are you poor, yours is the kingdom of God” (Lk 6:20); he made himself one of them: “I was hungry and you gave me food to eat”, and he taught them that mercy towards all of these is the key to heaven (cf. Mt. 25:5ff.).

ALMSGIVING BY FASTING – TEN WAYS WE CAN FAST by Fr. Ed Broom, O.M.V.

What might be some concrete ways in which we can practice fasting? An important note is the following: fasting is not merely a diet with the desire to lose a few extra pounds. Rather, the purpose of fasting is to please God, convert our hearts, as well as beg for the conversion of others. In other words, fasting must have both vertical and horizontal supernatural intentions!

TEN WAYS WE CAN FAST…

1. EAT LESS AND RECEIVE THE MOST HOLY EUCHARIST MORE.  By this practice we give more importance to our spiritual life and the salvation of our soul and the souls of others. Jesus said: “Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.” (Jn. 6:27, Discourse on the Bread of Life)

 2. CONTROL YOUR TONGUE.  Saint James says, “We should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.” (Jas 1:19) Read James Chapter Three—one of the best exhortations in the world to work on controlling our tongue and showing charity to others!

3. HEROIC MOMENTS.  The Founder of Opus Dei has coined the phrase, “The Heroic Moment”. By this Saint Josemaria Escriva asserts that as soon as we hear the alarm clock we should spring from bed, pray, and start our day. The devil of laziness encourages us to push the snooze button! I do not believe the snooze button exists in the vocabulary and practice of the saints. What do you think? Josemaria says it is through our daily work and responsibilities that we sanctify ourselves and others!

4. CONTROL THOSE WANDERING EYES.  The eyes are the mirror to the soul. The holy King David plunged into sin of the flesh, then more sin leading to murder, for the simple reason that he allowed his eyes to wander. His eyes wandered and gazed upon a married woman—Bathsheba. Adulterous thoughts led to physical adultery, denial of his sin, and finally to the killing of an innocent man—the husband of Bathsheba (2 Samuel Chapters 11 & 12). Let us strive to live out the Beatitude: “Blessed are the pure of heart, they will see God.” (Mt. 5:8) Only then can we see God in our neighbor!

5. PUNCTUALITY.  Jesus says, “He who is faithful in the small things will be faithful in the larger things.” (Lk. 16:10) Being punctual and on time is a sign of order, respect for others, and a means to accomplish tasks well and on time.

6. LISTEN TO OTHERS.  It is all too easy to interrupt others when they speak and try to impose our own ideas even before the person has finished with their idea. Charity, which means love for God and for others, teaches us to respect others and allow them to speak without interrupting. Listening to others is also an act of humility—putting others before ourselves! “Jesus meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto yours.” Indeed, Jesus describes His Heart as meek and humble. (Mt. 11:29)

7. BE THANKFUL RATHER THAN COMPLAIN.  Never allow a day to pass in which you do not thank God. We should constantly be thanking God. “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His mercy endures forever.” (Ps 118:1) Furthermore, we should make it a habit to give thanks to others frequently. 

8. SMILE, EVEN IF YOU DON’T NECESSARILY WANT TO.  This indeed could be a great penance—to smile at somebody even when you are tired or suffering from a headache or a cold. This is heroic virtue! A smile is something small, but it is contagious. Indeed a sincere smile can lift those who see it from desolation to a state of consolation. One of the most evident signs of being a follower of Jesus is a smile of joy radiating from your face. “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Phil. 4:4)

9. PRAY, EVEN WHEN YOU DO NOT FEEL LIKE IT.  Many of us unfortunately base our spiritual life on feelings, which are ephemeral, transitory, passing like the dew that evaporates in the morning sun. Our best example is, of course, Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane (Lk. 22: 39-46). When Jesus was experiencing mortal agony and desolation that drew huge drops of Blood from His pores, He did not feel like praying. Nonetheless, He prayed all the more fervently! Therefore, let us have a set time and place to pray, and pray every day, especially when we do not feel like it. This is true penance and love for God, to pray when we don’t want to pray, and offer the suffering for the glory of God and the salvation of immortal souls! This is a sign of true maturity in the faith!

10. ENCOURAGEMENT.  The name Barnabus actually means “son of encouragement” (Acts 4:36). Let us get out of our egotistic shell and focus instead on God and seeing Jesus in others. Let us be an encourager like Barnabas. Let us show compassion in imitation of the Good Samaritan. (Lk. 10:25-37) Let us become a Simon of Cyrene and help our brothers and sisters who are carrying the weight of a very heavy cross. Let us lighten it with encouraging words and a heart filled with love and compassion. In the difficult storms of this earthly battle, a word of encouragement can indeed be a powerful wind in their sails! Remember the Golden Rule: “In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.” (Mt. 7:12)

Prayerfully read through these ten suggestions on how to fast—how to deny yourself—and choose at least one or two that you can start to practice right away. May Our Lady, Mother of Good Counsel, encourage us to deny ourselves and say YES to the love of God by serving our brothers and sisters with a generous heart!

“At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.” (Lk. 1:39) 

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

Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18th Mt. 22: 15-21 Jesus said to them, “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”

Question: How clear is our discernment regarding what belongs to Caesar and what belongs to God?

Part 1:  Religious Dimension to Life by Fr. Paul de Ladurantaye
Part 2: THE FIVE NON-NEGOTIABLES AND VOTING by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

PART 1:

“Every individual has a profound religious dimension to his or her life.” By Fr. Paul de Ladurantaye

The Gospel scenes of the past few weeks have shown us Jesus in conflict with the religious leaders of His people over their failure to accept Him as the Messiah. Now, in this week’s Gospel, Our Lord’s opponents go on the attack. They hope to discredit Him in the eyes of the people by laying a trap for Him with their question, “Is it lawful to pay tax to the emperor or not?”

At a time when the emperor was worshiped as a god, many believed that payment of taxes amounted to idolatry. If Jesus said it was lawful to pay the tax, He would seem to be allowing insult to God. If Jesus said it was not lawful to pay the tax, He would be reported to the Roman officials for treason. Christ, however, gives His opponents a profound response, which goes far beyond a simple “yes” or “no.” He tells them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, but give to God what is God’s.”

What Our Lord is reminding us is that, as citizens, we have an obligation to render to the state whatever material and personal services are required for the common good of society. Christians are called upon to obey the just laws of the state, to vote for those who seek public office, to participate as well as we can in the political and social life of the community.

At the same time, the Lord makes it clear that we are citizens not only of the state but also of the Kingdom of God (“give to God what is God’s”). The state does not enjoy absolute power and dominion. Civil authorities are obliged to act with justice in the distribution of goods and services. They must serve the common good without looking for personal gain. They have to legislate and govern with the greatest respect for the natural law and the rights of people. This includes the protection of life from the moment of conception until natural death, the defense of marriage and the family, ensuring religious liberty, and safeguarding the rights of parents regarding the education of their children.

Jesus recognized the rights that the civil power enjoys but He also stated that we have to respect the rights of God. Human activity cannot be reduced to strictly social and political spheres of action. Every individual has a profound religious dimension to his or her life. Whenever we engage in public affairs, we cannot behave as if this religious dimension were reserved only for church on Sunday. Christians, on the contrary, are challenged to be light and salt in the midst of the world. We are called to transform the environments in which we live so as to make them more human.

When it comes to fundamental questions of social morality, we should be fully aware of the fact that our faith serves as a powerful light illuminating the whole of life. The teachings of God and His Church are not an obstacle to human welfare or scientific progress. They are, rather, a sure guide for authentic growth and development.

When, for example, we uphold the indissolubility of marriage, we are showing the way to guaranteeing the health of society. When we defend the sanctity and dignity of human life in the face of abortion, euthanasia, or techniques that treat human beings as mere objects, we are promoting a civilization of love. When we act with the firm conviction that the Church’s teachings are the only source capable of filling our modern age’s terrible religious and moral void, we show ourselves to be true children of God and followers of the Lord Jesus.

In spite of all social pressures and propaganda to the contrary, every Christian should imitate Christ the Lord, who was described by His opponents in this way: “You court no one’s favor and do not act out of human respect.” As we recognize and fulfill both our civic obligations and our religious ones, we will find ourselves living a coherent and consistent life. Then we will be able to do as Jesus demands: “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, but give to God what is God’s.”

(Father Paul F. de Ladurantaye, Executive Director of the St. Thomas More Institute and Diocesan Secretary for Catechetics and Sacred Liturgy, has been appointed to the English section of the Vatican Secretariat of State for five years beginning Sept. 1, 2018)

PART 2:

THE FIVE NON-NEGOTIABLES AND VOTING by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

As the most critical day of the Presidential election quickly approaches the first week of November, we must have clear, Catholic-Christian convictions in casting our votes.

As priest, it is not my duty to suggest any political party whatsoever. This is not my responsibility. However, speaking out on the morality of politics and what should motivate our choice of elected officials is the duty of the priest.

Therefore, in this short article, we would like to highlight five basic criteria as a guide to help all of us to cast our vote and exercise our civic duty and responsibility. The five basic criteria can be defined as the Five Non-negotiables for Catholic-Christian Voting.

By the terminology, the Five Non-negotiables for Catholic-Christian Voting, is meant the following: some decisions and actions are intrinsically evil. That is to say, the very essence of their being is wrong, immoral, sinful, and displeasing to God, the Author and Determiner of all that is good.

This being said, strive to be informed on these key issues. As a reference tool you might consult the Pro-life website: “Priestsforlife.org”—the President, Fr. Frank Pavone. This superb website will serve as an invaluable source to help you cast your vote according to Catholic-Christian criteria.

Now let us present in a clear, cogent, and precise manner these Five Non-negotiables.

THE FIVE NON-NEGOTIABLES FOR CATHOLIC-CHRISTIAN VOTING.

1. ABORTION. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, the key moral topic of abortion is by far the most important topic in choosing elected officials. Every human person is created in the image and likeness of God and has inalienable rights: that of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Human life comes from God—the origin, author, and sustainer of all life. Human life starts at the very moment of conception and has more value than the whole created universe, according to Aquinas. Check out what is each candidate’s position on abortion. None of us should be accomplices in promoting abortion, the killing of innocent human beings, by voting and supporting officials who promote murdering, worse yet, the most vulnerable, innocent and defenseless—the unborn babies in the womb.

2. EUTHANASIA. On the other side of the spectrum is that of Euthanasia. A philosophy motivated by a materialistic, hedonistic, utilitarian, erroneous system, this posits that the elderly or the terminally ill can truncate their life with lethal injections. In other words, the elderly and sick, in conjunction and collaboration with their relatives, and of course supported by the Medical Community, can decide when to end their life. Once again, we must oppose any political system and candidate who promotes the killing of the elderly and the infirm. Why? For the simple reason that God initiates life at the moment of conception in the womb of the mother and God ends life when, how, and in the manner He best sees fit. In the words of the Book of Job: “Naked I came forth from my mother’s womb, and naked I return to the earth. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21)

3. CONTRACEPTION. The next criteria in casting our vote is that of the promotion and use of any form of artificial Contraception. In the Magisterial teaching of the Church, most specifically Saint Pope Paul VI in his Encyclical Humanae Vitae, the Holy Pontiff teaches with utmost clarity that every conjugal act between man and woman must be open to the possibility of life. Therefore, use of any form of artificial means of contraception is intrinsically disordered—by its very nature and essence it is evil, sinful, and very displeasing to God. In fact, the first command of God in the Bible was: “Increase and multiply!” (Gen 1:28)

4. THE PRACTICE OF HOMOSEXUALITY (AND TRANSGENDERISM). Never have we lived in a world with so much information as today. However, at the same time, never have we lived in a world with so much confusion. We live in a perpetual state of “The Tower of Babel”—confusion to the max has permeated the total moral landscape. One of the key elements of confusion and error is the interpretation of the human person. God created the human person in His image and likeness. However, this must be emphasized to the highest degree possible: God created male and female, man and woman. The very first Book of the Bible, the Book of Genesis states this unequivocally, with the utmost clarity: “God created them male and female. Therefore, a man will leave his father and mother and he will be united to his wife.” (Gn.1:27; Gn.2:24)  Jesus quotes this in Mt. 19:4-6: “Haven’t you read that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

If you like, God created Adam and Eve and not Adam and Steve! The utter confusion and blurring of sexual distinction and identity is a diabolic poison that presently is spreading like wildfire. Indeed, the allowance and promotion of Homosexuality and the LGBT (Abbreviation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) agenda can end up by ruining the very foundation of human society—eating away at and eventually destroying the family. The traditional family is the husband and wife (male and female) married sacramentally in the Church in mutual love and open to the procreation and formation of children.

5. ARTIFICIAL FERTILIZATION AND EMBRYONIC RESEARCH. The last of the Five Non-negotiables is that of Artificial Fertilization and Embryonic Research. By Artificial Fertilization is meant that a man donates sperm and a woman donates multiple eggs (produced through artificial hormone stimulation of her ovaries). The laboratory clinicians combine the eggs with the sperm resulting in multiple embryos (new human beings) who are nourished in the laboratory in a petri (glass) dish. Some of these zygotes (little babies) are transferred to the body of the Mother (or even a surrogate Mother) with the hope that at least one will survive, although sometimes multiple survive. The other zygotes (little babies) are stored in a super-cooled freezer in case the initial attempt fails; some of these little babies die in that process. At the same time, the Father and Mother can decide at any time to simply have them discarded or allow them to be used for Embryonic Research. Once again this is horrendous and another form of murder – the killing of the innocent.

Embryonic Research, generally referred to as Embryonic Stem Cell Research. The Church’s objection is expressed in Donum Vitae (1987) No. 4, paragraph 29: 

“If the embryos are living, whether viable or not, they must be respected just like any other human person; experimentation on embryos which is not directly therapeutic is illicit.”

Furthermore, from the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, 1987: 

“No objective, even though noble in itself, such as a foreseeable advantage to science, to other human beings or to society, can in any way justify experimentation on living human embryos or fetuses, whether viable or not, either inside or outside the mother’s womb.”

In 2008, the instruction Dignitas Personae was released as a supplement to address newer bio-ethical issues and technologies.  

IN CONCLUSION:

Morally speaking, the only permissible way in which a person should come into the world is through the marital embrace of husband and wife in the context of the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony. We cannot play God by determining how life starts, when it should be ended, and the manner in which it ends. Only God has the right to bring a new human being into existence, and determine the time and the place for that person to die and face the Judgment seat of the Lord Jesus Christ.

My friends in Christ, for the love of your country, for the love of God, for the love of your children, for the love of your teens, for the love of your family, for the sake of your own eternal salvation, please take into account THE FIVE NON-NEGOTIABLES in choosing the future leaders of our country, the future leaders of the world. Remember: “Every individual is created in the image and likeness of God and has inalienable rights: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” May we follow these guidelines and experience true happiness in this life and in Heaven for all eternity!

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

 

Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr

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

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17^TH Lk. 12:8-12 Do not worry about how or what you are to say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you, at that moment what you are to say.

Today, let us open our mind and heart to the Holy Spirit, the Sweet Guest of our soul! Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Mary prayed the Magnificat! Let us make this pray our own, praying it slowly and fervently, pondering the words and applying them to our life as Scripture tells us Mary did.

My soul glorifies the Lord
   and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
   for he has been mindful
   of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
   for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
   holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
   from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
   he has scattered the proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
   but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
   but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
   remembering to be merciful
to Abraham and his descendants forever,
   just as he promised our ancestors.”

BE OPEN TO THE INSPIRATIONS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT!  by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

At the end of Saint Thomas Aquinas’ rather short but extremely holy life, Jesus spoke to him from the cross. He said Thomas had written well and asked what gift he would like to receive? The brilliant Angelic Doctor, Saint Thomas Aquinas, responded: “Lord, I beg you for the grace to love you more and more!”

THE INTERIOR MASTER OF THE SOUL.  

Among the many titles given to the Holy Spirit is The Interior Master. The Holy Spirit teaches us to pray and teaches us the importance of growing in the love of God, which is the greatest of all virtues. In this short essay we will present some inspirations that the Holy Spirit sends to us and how important it is for us to be open, to recognize, to accept, to receive, and to follow these inspirations. Our growth in holiness, our sanctification, our daily conversion depends in great measure on being attentive and docile to the Holy Spirit’s heavenly inspirations. Let us beg Mary, who is the Mystical Spouse of the Holy Spirit, to help us to be more docile to His heavenly inspirations. Let us pray: “Come, Holy Spirit, come through the Heart of Mary!!!”

 1. PRAYER-MOTIVATOR!
If you take your spiritual life seriously, which you really should, it has definitely happened that you felt a little nudge, a thought, an interior movement to open your heart to prayer. This would be a typical manifestation of an inspiration coming from the Holy Spirit. Hopefully, most of the time you correspond to the inspiration and pray!!!

2. PRAYER-MASTER.
Then once you get down to the nitty-gritty time allotted for your prayer, sometimes you will find yourself struggling. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states clearly and unequivocally that prayer is a battle at times. Such is the truth of this that the Catechism of the Catholic Church takes as an image with respect to the battle of prayer, the person of Jacob wrestling the whole night with an angel and he will not relinquish his hold on the angel until the angel gives him a blessing. Prayer at times can be a real struggle. However, we should never lose heart because the Holy Spirit will come to our help in this struggle.  Saint Paul in his Letter to the Romans expresses the battle of prayer in these words: “We do not know how to pray as we ought. But the Holy Spirit intercedes for us with ineffable groans so that we can say Abba, Father.” (Rom. 8:26) Indeed we have a most powerful intercessor to perfect our prayer life—the Holy Spirit of God!

3. LENGTHY PRAYER EXPERIENCE—RETREAT.
Many have experienced this truth—the power of lengthy prayer experiences called Retreats. I have given Retreats for decades now. As a priest, I have noticed lives radically transformed by people making these Retreats, especially Ignatian Retreats. Upon starting one of these Retreats, I frequently mention the fact that I am not the Principle Retreat Master. Rather, it is the Holy Spirit who is the Principle Guide and Director of the Retreat! By placing the Retreat under His Heavenly Guidance, the Retreat is always a resounding success!

4. PRAYER, PENANCE, POWER, PERSEVERANCE, PEACE OF SOUL.
The Holy Spirit and His Heavenly inspirations revolve often around the Five P’s! These are the following: Prayer, Penance, Power, Perseverance, and Peace of Soul. As mentioned above, the Holy Spirit often inspires us to open our heart to prayer, but also to the practice of penance, mortification, self-denial. If done, then our lives have more Power, as we witness in the Acts of the Apostles. That being said, the virtue of Perseverance is indispensable. Many start the spiritual long-distance race or marathon, but not all cross the finish-line. It is the Holy Spirit who inspires us to hang in there, especially in difficult times, and persevere until the end. Jesus expressed this clearly: “Those who persevere until the end will be saved.” (Mt. 24:13) If done, then the Holy Spirit blesses us with His fruits, as Saint Thomas Aquinas explains, an interior sweetness in the soul. And one of these fruits is that of PEACE!

5. CHALLENGES US IN OUR WEARINESS.
In the small spiritual masterpiece by the modern Author, Jacques Phillipe, “In the School of the Holy Spirit”, the author mentions an experience he had after returning from giving a retreat. As retreat-masters, we all know how exhausting retreats can be. But upon returning home, the author had an inspiration from the Holy Spirit to make a visit to the Blessed Sacrament, in spite of his weariness. Now if he were to have resisted this inspiration, most likely it would have been more difficult to fall asleep. However, upon recognizing this inspiration and following it, a good night’s rest followed and a spirit well-disposed to tackle the problems of the next day. In other words, the Holy Spirit, if we are open to His Heavenly inspirations, will challenge us to walk the extra mile and conquer our tendency to succumb to sloth.

6. TO SPEAK UP AND DEFEND THE TRUTH.
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit work extremely quickly; the Theological Virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity with less alacrity! Jesus warned His disciples, and that is also you and me, when put to the test, we should not worry or even prepare for our defense because it is the Holy Spirit who will be working through us. Read the Acts of the Apostles and you come to the quick conclusion that these uneducated men, open to the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, became both eloquent and persuasive, as well as willing to suffer anything for the sake of the Truth and to defend their love for the Person of Jesus the Lord. Saint Peter expressed boldly and unequivocally: “Better for us to obey God, rather than men.” (Acts 5:29) Another powerful and noteworthy example of courage to speak the truth in persecution is the person of Saint Joan of Arc. (Read Joan of Arc by Mark Twain, Ignatius Press.) The inquisition tried to trick her in her speech with the insidious question: “Are you in the state of grace?” Her response, inspired by the Holy Spirit: “If I am, thanks be to God; if I am not, may God place me there.” The most learned and brilliant theologian could not have answered with greater clarity, conviction and precision!!!

7. TO FORGIVE SERIOUS OFFENSES.
In our fallen human nature, it is near to impossible for us to forgive and be merciful towards those who have seriously hurt us. The inner law in many of us is “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” In other words, the law of revenge! It is the Holy Spirit who both inspires and teaches us to be merciful, to forgive, to pray for our persecutors, and even to love them. Saint Stephen prayed for Saul. And Saul was converted into the fiery Apostle, Saint Paul. The Proto-martyr, Saint Stephen is an excellent example of a heart open to the Holy Spirit granting him the grace to practice mercy by forgiving, praying for, and even loving those who not only persecuted him, but actually stoned him to death, with Saul (soon to be Paul) looking on in approval. Now in heaven, side by side are two great friends—Saint Stephen and Saint Paul! (Read Acts of the Apostles Chapter 7)

8. RECOGNIZING THE DIVINE PRESENCE AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.
Due to Original Sin, we all suffer, at least to some degree, from spiritual-blindness. The worst scenario is when we do not admit our blindness, and consequently make no effort to conquer this deplorable condition. A most powerful example of being open to the Holy Spirit is the recognition of the Son of God—of Jesus in the arms of Mary, by the Prophet Simeon that we encounter in the 4th Joyful Mystery, the Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple. (Lk. 2:22-38) Three times in this passage do we see Simeon under the influence of the Holy Spirit! “The Holy Spirit was upon him.” (Lk. 2:25) Then, “It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not taste death until he had seen the Messiah of the Lord.” (Lk. 2:26) Finally, “He came in the Spirit into the temple. (Lk. 2:27) How fascinating! In these three consecutive verses, the Prophet Simeon had this direct contact and influence of the Holy Spirit. Indeed, this patient, holy, and elderly man is a true model for all of us to be open at all times to the presence and the inspirations of the Holy Spirit! Indeed, the Holy Spirit is always ready to speak to us, to inspire us, to motivate us, and to use as His instruments, but unfortunately we put up barriers of resistance. Let us tear down those barriers right now!!!

9. THE HOLY SPIRIT: OUR CONSCIENCE AND OUR CONFESSION; OUR CONSOLATION AND COMFORT—COME, HOLY SPIRIT.
Another powerful and all-important passage in Scripture is the passage of the institution of the Sacrament of Reconciliation that first Easter Sunday night. Hidden in the Upper Room or Cenacle, the Apostles experienced an encounter with Jesus and the Holy Spirit that would transform their lives. In His glorified body, Jesus passed through the wall and greeted them: “Shalom”… “Peace be with you.” Then He said, “‘As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ Then Jesus breathed on them the Holy Spirit and said: ‘Receive the Holy Spirit; whose sins you forgive, shall be forgiven; whose sins you bind, shall be bound.” (Jn. 20:21-23) In this precise passage Jesus was giving to the Apostles, Bishops, and priests the power from the Holy Spirit to forgive sins in His name! This being the case, the Holy Spirit enlightens our conscience to see our sins; the Holy Spirit motivates us to confess these sins to Jesus through the priest. As a result and fruit of this admission and confession of our sins which culminates in absolution, we experience great consolation and comfort from the Holy Spirit! In other words, the Holy Spirit wants to purify our heart, mind, soul, and conscience of all our sins so that we can contemplate the glory of God. Jesus reminds us: “Blessed are the pure of heart, for they will see God.” (Mt 5:8)

10. THE HOLY SPIRIT AND MARY—HIS MYSTICAL SPOUSE.
Our Lady is the Daughter of God the Father, the Mother of God the Son, and she is the Mystical Spouse of the Holy Spirit. Actually, the Church was born on the Feast of Pentecost. After nine days and nine nights of fervent prayer, the Apostles united with the Blessed Virgin Mary experienced a radical experience that changed their lives. The Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles in tongues of fire. (Acts 2:1-13) It was the Blessed Virgin Mary who facilitated the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles on this Birthday of the Church! It is for this reason that the great Marian Saint, Saint Louis de Montfort exclaimed: “Those who love Mary, the Holy Spirit flings Himself into that soul.” (True Devotion to Mary, Saint Louis de Montfort)

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

Friday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time

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

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16^TH  Lk. 12:1-7   “There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed on the housetops.”

• Today Jesus warns His disciples and us not to imitate the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. For all our words and actions, and all that is in our heart, will be made known – to some extent in this life, in their entirety at the Particular Judgment before Jesus, and again at the Second Coming of Christ at the Last Judgment, the general judgment of all the nations.

LAST THINGS AND THE REALITY OF ETERNITY by Fr. Ed. Broom, OMV  

 One of the most efficacious meditations to wake us up, to shake our indolence and complacency, and to motivate us to focus on the most essential and important event in our life is the meditation on the so-called Last-things! In theology, this branch of knowledge is called Eschatology—the study of the Last Things! Seminarians will often have a full semester in this study. Saint Ignatius of Loyola encourages these meditations as a most efficacious means to renounce sin in our life and choose a life of holiness pointing us to God, our Supreme and Everlasting Good.

What then are the Last Things, couched and imbued with the reality of the stark but so real concept of Eternity? They are the following: Death, Judgment, Heaven, Hell, and for Catholics, the reality of Purgatory.

A serious meditation upon these five realities and the concept of eternity, which means forever and ever and ever and ever, can shake us from a life of complacency and inflame our heart, mind, and will to focus on the one essential—the one thing necessary – attaining the possession of God for all eternity!

The style of this meditation will be very simple, a brief commentary on one of these realities accompanied by a Biblical passage, then several brief meditation points, ending with a Prayer. Our thrust and hope for those who engage upon this meditation is to arrive at a deeper conversion of life and a firm purpose to do all in your power to get to heaven. Also, from this, to bring as many people to heaven as you possibly can.

Therefore, let us launch into the most noble endeavor of the meditation on the Last Things, from a deeply Biblical perspective and formulate concrete proposals that will help us for time into eternity.

One last point for meditation. Our life is very short in comparison with eternity. The Psalmist reminds us: “Our life is like the flower of the field that rises in the morning and withers and dies as the sun goes down.” (Ps.103:15-16) The great Doctor of the Church, Saint Augustine asserts: “Our life in comparison with eternity is a mere blink of the eye.”  Saint Peter expressed it in these words: “For the Lord one day is like a thousand years.” (2Pt.3:8) Our Lady of Fatima said: “If people would simply meditate upon eternity, they would be converted quickly.”

 THE LAST THINGS AND ETERNITY: TIME FOR CONVERSION OF LIFE!

I. DEATH: INEVITABLE REALITY FOR ALL HUMANS – Lk. 12:16-21 Parable of the Rich Fool

1) DEFINITION: “Death is the reality of the separation of the soul from the body.”
2) IMPORTANCE: The great woman Doctor of the Church, Saint Teresa of Avila states: “The two most important moments in our life are now and at the hour of our death.”
3) REALITY: We must constantly remind ourselves, not with a morbid depression or anxiety, but with truth and reality: one day I will die!
4) WHEN: That is the question! None of us know the day, or the hour, or the moment, or the circumstances, or the manner in which we will die. This is a mystery.
5) TIMELY PROVERB: A great proverb I learned in Argentina with respect to death: “La muerte is lo mas cierto pero lo mas incierto.” In English: “Death is the most certain, but the most uncertain.” For the simple reason, we know we will die, but we do not know the day, time, manner or circumstances. This is a great mystery!
6) JESUS’ WARNING: “Be prepared because death will come like a thief in the night.” (Mt. 24:36)
7) UNTIMELY DEATHS: We should all meditate upon the constant reality of untimely deaths in an international setting, as well as national, local, and personal setting. We all have been in contact with sudden deaths.
8) WORST REALITY. The two worst things are: mortal sin; but worse yet, dying in mortal sin. The former is the death of the soul; the latter is the death and loss of the soul for all eternity!
9) GOOD DEATH: A good death is going to the Sacrament of Confession. By confessing well, we die to sin and rise to grace and friendship with Jesus.
10) PRAYER TO OUR LADY: Beg Mary for the grace of a holy and happy death. This can be done by praying the Hail Mary and the Holy Rosary.

II. JUDGMENT: MOMENT OF TRUTH – Mt. 25: 31-46 The Judgment of the Nations

1) JUDGMENT follows immediately after we die, the very second!
2) JESUS. Who will judge us? It is Jesus, the Lord! We pray every Sunday in the Creed: “He (Jesus) will come to judge the living and the dead.”
3) REINCARNATION? No! We do not believe in reincarnation. This goes directly against the belief in the Paschal Mystery – the Passion, death, and Resurrection of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus.
4) ONE LIFE. We have one life to live and at the moment of our death, Jesus will judge us.
5) TWO JUDGMENTS. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us the reality of two judgments: The Particular Judgment and the General or Last Judgment.
6) THE PARTICULAR JUDGMENT. This judgment takes place immediately after we die in which we go before Jesus Christ who is our Judge.
7) WHAT WILL IT BE LIKE? If you like a modern image, it will be like going to the movies in which a movie of your life will be seen on the screen by you and Jesus. It is the moment of truth. Or if you like, you will present to the Lord the Book of Your Life. Hopefully it will be enshrined in the Hall of Fame and not the Hall of Shame!!!
8) WHAT WILL BE JUDGED? All we have ever done and not done. Our thoughts, words, actions, intentions, and our omissions. The most secret of our actions and intentions will be brought to light before the eyes of Jesus. Nothing will be hidden.
9) THE GENERAL JUDGMENT. This will take place at the end of the world. All the people who have ever lived will come together, and as we read in Mt. 25: 31-48, Jesus the Judge will separate the sheep from the goats, the saved from the damned, those who helped the least of these from those who failed to help them.
10) PRAYER: “Lord, now while I still have time, help me to convert my life. Lord, be not my judge; rather, be my Savior and Redeemer!”

III. HEAVEN: THE DESIRE OF THE EVERLASTING HILLS   Rev. Chapter 12: The New Heaven and the New Earth

1) PRINCIPLE AND FOUNDATION: The purpose of our life on earth is to get to heaven. “We are created to praise God, reverence God, serve God and save our soul.” (Saint Ignatius, Principle and Foundation, #23)
2) LONG FOR HEAVEN. We should have a constant desire and longing for heaven, our eternal destiny. The Psalmist summarizes this desire superbly: “As the deer yearns for the running streams, so my soul yearns for you my God.” (Psalm 42:1)
3) WHAT IS HEAVEN LIKE? Its beauty and greatness transcend any human imagination. Saint Paul expresses it as such: “Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has it entered into the mind of man, the wonderful things that God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Cor. 2:9)
4) HAPPIEST DAY IN YOUR LIFE. Call to mind the happiest day, hour, moment in your life. Now multiply the joy a million times, and add eternity to the equation. You have a mere glimpse of the glory of heaven! A mere glimpse!
5) FRIENDSHIP. In heaven the saints, all of the saints, will be your best friends and for all eternity.
6) ANGELS. Not only the saints, but also the angels will be there with you as your friends. Untied with you to praise and love the Trinity for all eternity.
7) ABSOLUTE AND TOTAL PEACE. While we live in this valley of tears and struggle, peace is both partial and incomplete. In Heaven the peace will be total and absolute!  ^“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
8) OUR LADY. One of the greatest joys of heaven will be to contemplate the glorious beauty of the Face of Mary and experience forever her Motherly love.
9) THE TRINITY. Of course, the greatest of all graces once we arrive at heaven will be the presence of God—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We will contemplate the Blessed Trinity – God who is LOVE! He will love us and we will love Him, and we will be absorbed in the LOVING EMBRACE of the TRINITY for all eternity, with Our Blessed Mother Mary, all the angels and saints, and our loved ones who have merited heaven before us. How much we should long for heaven!
10) PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I beg for the Grace of all Graces, to die in the state of Grace!!!

IV. HELL: SEPARATION FROM GOD FOR ALL ETERNITY. Rev. Chapter 18: The Terrible Fall of Babylon

1) REALITY. Whether or not we like the word, term or even reality of Hell, and even if we were to deny hell, no matter: HELL does exist! This is a doctrinal truth of Catholicism.
2) CAFETERIA CATHOLICISM. We cannot fall into the error of Cafeteria Catholicism—picking and choosing what we like in Church teaching and discarding what is unsavory to our spiritual palate!
3) DEFINITION: Hell is a place of torment and eternal separation from God, and it is eternal— it lasts forever and ever.
4) WHO GOES THERE? Anyone who dies unrepentant in the state of mortal sin, by their own free choice has rejected God due to mortal sin and thereby merits the eternal chastisement of hell.
5) WHO IS IN HELL? The rebellious angels that we call the devils (Rev. 12), as well as the damned souls.
6) WHAT ARE THE PAINS OF HELL? Jesus speaks clearly and on more than one occasion that there is ETERNAL HELL FIRE.
7) ANYTHING ELSE? Yes, there is sadness, weeping, gnashing of teeth, and cries of despair. And do not forget: it is forever!
THE WORST PUNISHMENT OF ALL? By far, the worst punishment of hell is having lost God for all eternity. We were created for God, to love God and be loved by God 8) The damned soul through their own fault has rejected God and merited hell – all due to their own machinations, their own perverse will!
9) REASON FOR HELL? Our Lady of Fatima (1917) said that the reason why most souls go to hell is because of sins against the 6th and 9th Commandments—sins against the virtue of holy purity.
10) PRAYER: Our Lady of Fatima insisted that we pray this prayer for the salvation of souls after each decade of the Rosary: “O my Jesus, forgive us our sins; save us from the fires of hell and lead all souls to heaven, especially those most in need of your mercy.”

V. PURGATORY: GOD’S CLEANSING FIRE OF LOVE.  II Maccabees Chapter 12: 38-46

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!
5. WHAT MUST BE PURIFIED? Venial sins and repented mortal sins that have not been fully expiated or purified must undergo a process of purification.
6.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!
7. 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.
8. 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 have full access to the eternal Heavenly Banquet to be with God and His angels and saints.
9 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, the dirt, and the 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 rust of our selfishness!
10. 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!
11. 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 every day to earn a Plenary Indulgence every day, 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!

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

Memorial of Saint Teresa of Jesus,
Virgin and Doctor of the Church

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

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15^TH   Lk. 11: 47-54   “When Jesus left, the scribes and Pharisees began to act with hostility toward him and to interrogate him about many things, for they were plotting to catch him at something he might say.”

• In today’s Gospel we find the shadow of the cross. Again and again, Jesus calls out and condemns the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees, and so they begin to plot against Him.
• In our lives, the cross is ever present. Let us never forget that Jesus walked Calvary before us. He led the way. And that way – the way of the Cross – leads to new life! “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” (Ps. 118:22)
• Today let us meditate on the Passion and Death of Christ. Let us draw close to Jesus, the man of sorrows, to comfort and console Him. Let us ask Mary, the Sorrowful Mother, to walk with us.
• Be assured that as you choose to relive what they suffered and endured for love of you – Jesus and Mary are present with you right now in your life, walking with you every moment, every step of the way, through the joys and sorrows, assisting and comforting you with their compassionate and loving Hearts!
• There are many Meditations listed below. Why not try to pray with one of these spiritual gems in your Holy Hour every Friday – the day we commemorate the Passion and death of Jesus – the Greatest Love Story ever told!

WALKING CLOSE TO JESUS IN HIS PASSION by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

If we really love Jesus as Our Lord, our God, our Savior and our Best of Friends then we should have a firm desire to follow Jesus in His Public life where He performs miracles, casts out demons, and preaches simple but profound sermons.

However, if we are not to be one of the proverbial fair-weather friends—meaning faithful only when the sun shines, the birds sing, and the fragrance of spring flowers can be inhaled, imbibed and exhilarated—then we must be willing to walk with the Lord in His suffering, His Passion, His crucifixion and the shedding of His Precious Blood.

Therefore, we offer for your reading, pondering, prayer and meditation ten specific ways that you can walk close to Jesus in His Passion to console Him, comfort Him, accompany Him, love Him, and strive to be His Best of Friends. Here is the list of ten!

1. READ THE GOSPEL PASSION NARRATIVES.  Go to the most authentic sources to meditate on and contemplate the Passion narratives; these are the Gospels: Matthew Chapters 26 & 27, Mark Chapters 14 & 15, Luke Chapters 22 & 23, John Chapters 18 & 19. Pray, read, meditate, ponder, reflect and contemplate the love that Jesus has for you and for the whole world.

2. MOVIE: THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST, Mel Gibson. View the classical movie of Jesus’ suffering and death by Mel Gibson, “The Passion of the Christ”. However, do not view it as a Hollywood rendition. Rather, view it as a prayer, as a contemplation, as a tool to walk step by step with Jesus ,as did Mary His Sorrowful Mother.

3. MOVIE: MIRACLE OF MARCELINO (1955 Version) / MARCELINO, PAN Y VINO. This touching, endearing, emotional movie of the Miracle of Marcelino definitely can help you to enter into the Passion, suffering and death of Jesus with the love and heart of a child. Jesus stated: “Unless you become like a child, you cannot enter the Kingdom of God.” (Mt. 18:3) Now it is your turn: try to talk to Jesus in a simple and childlike manner. Console Jesus with your words and your presence. Thank Jesus and tell Him from the depths of your heart how much you earnestly desire to love Him more and more, aware of how much He loves you.

4. THE WAY OF THE CROSS. One of the most efficacious practices of devotion and piety for centuries is to make, better said, to pray, “The Way of the Cross”.  Walk with Mary and the Magdalene on the Via Dolorosa which culminates in the Crucifixion of Jesus, which He underwent for love of you and me! How precious you are in the eyes of Jesus in that He suffered all of His Passion for the salvation of your immortal soul that you might share the glory of heaven with Him for all eternity!

5. THE FIVE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES OF THE MOST HOLY ROSARY! Take each of the Sorrowful Mysteries and contemplate them with great depth—from the Agony of Jesus leading up to His Crucifixion and death.

6. MEDITATE ON THE SEVEN LAST WORDS OF JESUS FROM THE CROSS. Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, for many years, would give his famous Sermon in New York City on the Seven Last Words of Jesus from the Cross. What are they?

• “Father forgive them, for they know not what they are doing.”
• “I thirst!”
• “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?”
• “Woman behold thy son; son behold thy Mother.”
• “Amen, I say to you: today you will be with me in Paradise.” (To the good thief on the cross who repented)
• “Into your hands I commend my spirit.”
• “It is finished!”

Kneel or sit in front of the Crucifix and slowly repeat these seven words, these seven short sentences. Pray over them, relish them, take them to heart, memorize them, and then live them out in your life.

7. MEDITATE ON AND CONTEMPLATE THE SEVEN SORROWS OF MARY. Among the many titles attributed to the Blessed Virgin Mary is that of “Our Lady of Sorrows.” A pious devotion, starting with the Franciscans, has been to pray over and contemplate the Seven Sorrows of Mary. Pope Saint John Paul II in his Apostolic Letter, “The Blessed Virgin Mary and the Rosary” exhorts the lovers of Jesus and Mary to “Contemplate the Face of Jesus through the eyes and Heart of Mary.” Mary willingly suffered in the depths of her Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart what Jesus suffered physically in His Sacred Body, His Sacred Flesh, given to Him by Mary in His Incarnation. These are the seven sorrows of Mary:

• The Prophecy of Simeon in the Temple.
• The Flight of the Holy Family into Egypt.
• The Loss and the Finding of Jesus in the Temple.
• Jesus meets Mary on the Via Dolorosa—on the Calvary walk.
• Jesus is crucified, suffers and dies with Mary standing at the foot of the cross.
• Jesus crucified body is taken from the cross and placed in the arms of Mary. (La Pieta)
• Jesus is taken from the arms of Mary and is buried.

Spend some time with Our Lady of Sorrows. Contemplate the sorrows and sufferings of her Son, Jesus, through her eyes and heart. Strive to console both!

8. CONTEMPLATE JESUS ON THE CROSS—ON YOUR CRUCIFIX. Now in the silence of your room, spend some time simply gazing at Jesus hanging on the cross for love of you, your family, and the salvation of your immortal souls. Then rise and with love, tenderness, and devotion, kiss the wounds in His hands; kiss the wounds in His feet; kiss the wound in His side from which flowed Blood and Water. Tell Jesus how much you really love Him and how you desire to love Him more every day of your life until you die and pass from time into eternity.

9. READ A GOOD COMMENTARY. There are many on the Passion of Christ. But truly worthy of reading and meditation is The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ by Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich, a German Mystic and Stigmatist. Mel Gibson used material from this literary classic to fill in some of the gaps in his film The Passion of the Christ. Any source we can utilize to enhance our knowledge and love of Jesus in His Passion is worth pursuing! The Mystic offers many details that are not to be found in any of the Four Gospels. Archaeological exploration in the Holy Land has corroborated details of her writings heretofore unknown.

10. REPENT AND BELIEVE IN THE GOOD NEWS (Mk. 1:15) This was the first preaching of Jesus in His Public Life. These are the words that the priest might have pronounced when imposing ashes on your forehead on Ash Wednesday, at the very commencement of the Season of Lent. These words of Jesus inscribed on our forehead set in motion Lent and the daily challenge for every follower of Christ—that is to say, we are all called on a daily basis to be converted from sin. How? Jesus invites and challenges us to change our mind-set; as St Paul says: To put on the mind of Christ… and to have a fresh way of thinking, feeling, and acting. Our daily conversion is a firm determination in the depths of our soul to renounce sin, and to contemplate and imitate Jesus who is truly the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Therefore, if we sincerely want to follow Jesus Christ in His Suffering, Passion and death we must make a concerted effort to put to death all that is earthly, carnal, base and sinful and aspire to what is noble, pure, holy and worthy of praise in the eyes of God. May Our Lady, the Mother of God, the Mother of the Church, and Our Lady of Sorrows intercede for us now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

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