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

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9^TH Lk. 6:20-26   “Blessed are you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours.”

• In today’s Gospel, Jesus shows compassion for those who are poor, who are hungry, who are weeping, and who suffer at times on account of Him. He does not promise to remove their crosses. Rather, He tells them to rejoice and leap for joy, for their reward will be great in heaven!!!
• We can suffer, through no fault of our own, from many kinds of poverty, hunger or loss, and even persecution on account of Christ! His words are for us as well!
• Jennifer Rothschild is an author, speaker, wife and Mom. She lost her sight at age 15 due to a rare form of degenerative eye disease. One day her daughter-in-law was visiting while Jennifer was in the kitchen making cookies. Jennifer burned her hand on a pan handle, smacked the side of her face on an open cupboard door, and knocked over the vanilla bottle. Her daughter-in-law said quietly, “It must be really hard to be blind.” Jennifer responded, “Somedays are easier than others. But every time I have a hard day, I remind myself: life is short—eternity long.”
• This is Ignatian Principle and Foundation! We are here to praise, reverence, serve and love God, and by that means to save our soul, which means joy in heaven with Jesus for all eternity!!!
• The key is to learn how to suffer well while we are here! After all, life is short—eternity long!

 SUFFERING! IT CAN MAKE US BETTER OR BITTER!!!  By Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

It is hard to suffer, none of us really like to suffer, nor do we look forward to suffering! Nonetheless, being human, suffering is both inevitable and unpredictable, as well as unavoidable! Young or old, man or woman, poor or rich, in season and out of season—there is a constant: the difficult and demanding reality of human suffering!

According to both Aristotle and Saint Thomas Aquinas—the greatest Greek philosopher and the greatest Catholic Theologian and thinker—suffering is neither good nor bad; it is neutral, you might say. It all depends upon the way we perceive suffering and react to it. In a word, suffering can make us either better or bitter. Suffering can either crush us or it can sanctify us!

THE POSITIVE VALUE AND MEANING OF SUFFERING.  If we suffer apart from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, then beyond the shadow of a doubt, suffering will make us bitter, resentful, angry, and lead eventually to depression. However, on the other side of the coin, if we can look at Jesus and His suffering, especially as we contemplate Jesus nailed and hanging on the cross, then our perspective and reality changes dramatically and immediately. Jesus Himself chose to save and redeem the world by means of suffering, by means of His Passion, by means of His crucifixion, by means of His slow and excruciating death that first Good Friday! In other words, it was through Jesus’ suffering and the profuse shedding of His Precious Blood that Jesus willed to save the whole world from damnation and open up the gates of Heaven. For that reason, the great Saint Francis of Assisi prayed the short but fervent prayer: “We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.”

JESUS’ SUFFERING AND US.  The reality of Jesus’ suffering must be applied to you and to me. As said earlier, we all have to suffer; it is part of the human plight and condition as a result of the sin of our first parents, Adam and Eve, the Original Sin. However, the key is this: we must learn how to sanctify our suffering by union with the suffering of Jesus. Yes! It is only inasmuch as we unite our life and our suffering with Jesus’ suffering on the cross that our suffering has true salvific and redeeming value. Again, suffering can make us either better or bitter.

HOW TO SUFFER WITH JESUS?  The next question that necessarily follows is HOW can we suffer with Jesus? This is not an easy task. We must beg for the grace; we need urgently the grace of God. Not to be overly simplistic, we would like to offer a relatively short path. These are the steps.

1. KNOWLEDGE AND AWARNESS. The first step is that we have to be cognizant or aware of the reality of suffering in the world in which we live, but even more important, of the suffering that we are going through on a personal and individual plane.

2. BEG FOR THE GRACE. The next step in sanctifying our suffering is that of becoming a beggar. The great Saint Augustine asserts: “We are all beggars before God.” That means that we are constantly in need of God’s grace, His supernatural help. Without God we can do nothing, but with God all things are possible. Therefore, we must beg the Lord—like the blind beggar Bartimaeus—for the grace to recognize our suffering and the grace to suffer in a way that is pleasing to God.

3. DO NOT COMPLAIN OR REJECT. When you are visited by suffering, avoid complaining and getting angry over the prospect of this suffering in your life, much less reject it! In visiting Hospitals, Nursing Homes, and homes of the elderly and sick, how much suffering is actually wasted! What a shame and disgrace—so much wasted suffering!

4. What must follow suffering is the reality of ACCEPTING the suffering. When beset with a cross, it is incumbent upon us to recognize the suffering as soon as possible and accept it. This is the key to victory—recognizing the suffering and accepting it quickly! Beg for the grace and be open to the Holy Spirit. We accept it for a very important reason!

5. OFFER IT UP. Many of us were brought up in the past with a good education from our parents, and from the Sisters in Catholic school, who taught us this three word spiritual axiom: OFFER IT UP! It might sound like a cliché or even a pious platitude, but if truly understood, it is anything but a cliché, platitude, or hackneyed and overused pious saying!

6. OFFER IT UP—THE CROSS. The real meaning and interpretation of this axiom OFFER IT UP is related to the cross and the Person who suffered on the cross—our Lord and God, our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. In sum, we are called to accept our suffering so as to offer our suffering to Jesus, thereby uniting our suffering to Jesus’ suffering on the cross. If this is done with purity of intention, the suffering that we are undergoing takes on infinite value!

7. HOW TO DO THIS? Simply look to the cross and as you contemplate the gaping wounds of Jesus in His hands, feet, and opened side, say to Jesus: “Lord Jesus, as I contemplate your suffering for love of me, I offer my suffering for love of you and for the salvation of souls.” Using these or similar words, your suffering transforms you, and anyone who does this, into little Victim Souls—souls who suffer with Jesus for the reason He came to earth, the salvation of poor sinners.

8. THE PASSION OF JESUS AND YOURS. Saint Paul states: “I fill up what is lacking in the Passion of Christ.” (Col 1:24) How can this Pauline verse be understood and applied? Quite simply by recognizing, accepting, offering, and uniting your suffering to the suffering of Jesus on the cross. It is more than true to say that Jesus is the only Savior of the world. However, Jesus wants generous souls to collaborate with Him—to pray, work, and suffer with Him for the salvation of as many souls as possible. Remember the motto of Saint John Bosco: “Give me souls and take all the rest away.”

9. THE CROSS, CALVARY, AND THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS. However, it must be stated with utmost clarity that our most efficacious union with Jesus is through the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. As Venerable Fulton J. Sheen points out, in every Mass the sacrifice of Jesus on Calvary is present. Of course this is an invisible reality, but indeed a reality. In every Mass, the Sacrifice of Good Friday and Jesus Passion, suffering, and death is present. Jesus is offering His Precious Blood to God the Father for the salvation of humanity, as well as every soul individually. This being said, we must unite our suffering to the cross and the Passion of Jesus present in every Holy Mass, so He can offer our suffering with His to the Father! Indeed, in every Mass, Calvary and the fruits of Calvary are present and available to all! In this way our suffering becomes efficacious beyond comprehension!

10, OUR LADY AND OUR SUFFERING. Our exhortation on suffering would be incomplete if we did not introduce Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows, into the scene. During the Mass, give your sufferings to Mary. Mary is the daughter of God the Father, Mother of God the Son, and Mystical Spouse of the Holy Spirit. Place them in her hands and in her Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart. Let Mary place them on the altar during the Mass. When Jesus truly present in the Consecrated Host is elevated—Mary offers your sufferings to the suffering of Jesus on the cross, Jesus in turn presents your sufferings with His to the Eternal Father, and as a result your suffering has infinite value!!!

In conclusion suffering will either make you better or bitter! If you can learn to suffer with Jesus and Mary, unite your sufferings to Jesus on the cross, unite your sufferings through Mary to Jesus truly present in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at the moment of Consecration, then your sufferings will have infinite value, and with Saint Paul truly you will “fill up what is lacking in the Passion of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Col. 1:24) Let us pray with the great mystic, stigmatic, and lover of the cross, Saint Francis of Assisi: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your cross you have redeemed the world.”

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

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

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8^TH   Mt. 1: 1-16, 18-23   Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

On this Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, let us rejoice and give thanks to God for the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and our mother!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In conclusion, let us often lift our hearts in prayer to Mary, our Mother, with great confidence in her tender love and care for us, her children.

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
That never was it known
That anyone who fled to your protection,
Implored your help, or
Sought your intercession,
Was left unaided.

Inspired by this confidence,
I fly unto you,
O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. 

To you do I come,
Before you I stand,
Sinful and sorrowful.

O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
Despise not my petitions,
But in thy mercy, hear and answer them.

Amen.

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

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

MONDAY SEPT. 7^TH   Lk. 6: 6-11   “The scribes and the Pharisees watched him closely to see if he would cure on the Sabbath so that they might discover a reason to accuse him.”

Pharisee has come to mean hypocrite—which means pretending to have virtues, beliefs, principles, etc. that one does not actually possess. The opposite of hypocrisy is integrity—meaning our interior and exterior life are integrated. Today we are exhorted to participate in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass with integrity—interiorly and exteriorly.

Part 1: Living Divine Worship… by Ven. Pope Pius XII
Part 2: Holy Mass, Holy Communion, and Holiness of Life by Fr. Ed. Broom, OMV

PART 1:  Living Divine Worship … by Ven. Pope Pius XII (+1947)

The chief element of divine worship must be interior: For we must always live in Christ and give ourselves to Him completely, so that in Him, with Him, and through Him the heavenly Father may be duly glorified.

The sacred liturgy requires, however, that both of these elements (interior and exterior participation) be intimately linked with each other. This recommendation the liturgy itself is careful to repeat, as often as it prescribes an exterior act of worship.

You recall how the Divine Master expels from the sacred Temple, as unworthy to worship there, people who pretend to honor God with nothing but neat and well-tuned phrases, like actors in a theater, and think themselves perfectly capable of working out their eternal salvation without plucking their inveterate vices from their hearts!

It is, therefore, the keen desire of the Church that all of the faithful kneel at the feet of the Redeemer to tell Him how much they venerate and love Him. She wants them present in crowds—like the children whose joyous cries accompanied His entry into Jerusalem—to sing their hymns and chant their song of praise and thanksgiving to Him who is King of Kings and Source of every blessing.  

She would have them move their lips in prayer, sometimes in petition, sometimes in joy and gratitude, and in this way experience His merciful aid and power like the Apostles at the lakeside of Tiberias, or abandon themselves totally, like Peter on Mount Tabor, to mystic union with the eternal God in contemplation. 

PART 2:  HOLY MASS, HOLY COMMUNION, AND HOLINESS OF LIFE by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

One of the key Chapters in the Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium, Chapter V, is the Universal Call to Holiness. In concrete, this chapter lays out the goal and the purpose of every human person, created in the image and likeness of God: the call to become a saint! Jesus expressed this command unequivocally and with outmost clarity and transparency: “Be holy as your Heavenly Father is holy.” (Mt. 5:48) In the most famous block of teaching and preaching of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, The Sermon on the Mount, in the initial phase of this teaching called the Beatitudes Jesus teaches: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for holiness; they will be satisfied.” (Mt.5:6). Saint Paul in his letter to the Thessalonians reiterates the same truth: “This is the will of your heavenly Father: your sanctification.” (1Thess. 4:3) The modern saint, Mother Teresa of Calcutta exhorts us in these words: “Holiness is not the privilege of the few, but the duty of all.”

Therefore, let us offer the shortcut on the Highway or Expressway to holiness. Why not choose the quickest, most secure, and most efficacious path to arrive at the heights of holiness in our short life here on earth! Instead of choosing and pursuing a circuitous, labyrinthine, laborious, and sometimes frustrating path towards holiness, why not take the shortcut!

The Shortcut and Smooth Path: Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, through Mass and Holy Communion.

The title above highlights and indicates the shortcut or easy path to holiness: Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. However, the means by which we connect with this electric current of grace of holiness is through participating in and living out the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass to the fullest extent possible. The Dogmatic Constitution on the Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium, expresses it the following words: “The faithful must participate fully, actively, and consciously in the Mass. The Mass is the source and summit of holiness.”

As a motivation to all people of good will who take sincerely this Universal Call to Holiness, we will accentuate in this brief treatise the remarkable sanctifying effects that Holy Communion can produce in the recipient of such a sublime Sacrament. Indeed, the most Holy Eucharist which is truly and substantially the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus the Son of the living God is the key to all holiness.

Before entering into the effects that Holy Communion produces on the individual, a key theological concept must be explained with clarity and precision: The concept of Dispositive-grace. This means that the Sacrament of the Eucharist is truly Jesus, the Son of the Eternal Father, the Holy of Holies. However, the graces received in the reception of Holy Communion are commensurate or in direct proportion to the disposition of the individual heart that receives Jesus. If one receives Jesus in mortal sin then he eats and drinks to his own condemnation. (I Corinthians 11:27-30). If the preparation and reception is mediocre, the graces will correspond to the attitude of mediocrity. If the disposition is good, the graces will flow more freely. If the disposition is fervent then graces will redound all the more. Finally, if the preparation is excellent and the reception in a heart on fire with love then the effect can be compared to a spiritual atomic-bomb: an explosion of graces. The latter should be our aim and our goal!

Now we will enumerate and explain exactly what can take place in the well-disposed heart that receives the Eucharistic Lord Jesus in Mass in the context of the most Holy Eucharist—the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus.

1. PURIFICATION OF THE HEART AND SOUL. Holy Communion received with the ardent fire of charity can serve to burn away the residue of smaller sins that we call venial sins. Saint John of the Cross, the Mystical Doctor of the Church, offers us this analogy. If you put a rusty piece of iron in a scathing and intense fire, then the fire will consume the rust and the iron assumes the same property as the fire. So it is with Holy Communion. The Council of Trent says Holy Communion is the antidote to our daily infirmities. On a Pastoral note, nobody should refrain from the reception of Holy Communion if they have venial sin or sins on their soul. Whereas, if they have unconfessed mortal sin or sins on their soul, they must refrain until they confess to a priest.

2. SPIRITUAL HEART-TRANSPLANT. Saint Margaret Mary AIacoque had the unique and incredible privilege of contemplating the most Sacred Heart of Jesus at Paray-le-Monial in France. What a blessing and unique privilege indeed! However, it must be stated with gratitude and great humility that we have a more frequent and greater privilege! We can receive Holy Communion on a daily basis. In the Our Father, Jesus taught us to pray: “Give us this day our daily-bread….” In Holy Communion we truly receive the Total Lord Jesus—Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity and that includes the Sacred Heart of Jesus. So in a real sense, every Holy Communion received worthily is truly a SPIRITUAL-HEART-TRANSPLANT. After receiving Holy Communion, we have the Sacred Heart of Jesus beating in our heart! Our heart becomes consumed in His Sacred Heart!

3. THE MOST SUBLIME VIRTUES IN THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS.  Following up on the reality of the Sacred Heart of Jesus that we receive in every Holy Communion is the fact that with Jesus’ Heart we also receive His most sublime virtues. Faith, Hope Charity, Humility, Patience, Obedience, Purity, Fortitude, Meekness, Gentleness, Wisdom and Knowledge—all of these and all of the virtues imaginable are truly present in every Holy Communion. Still more these virtues in Jesus are the most refined, the most holy, the most sublime that the human mind can comprehend.

4. CONVERSION OF VICE TO VIRTUE. For this reason, the great Educator of youth of the 19^th Century, Saint John Bosco, was a precursor of the practice of frequent Holy Communion in that he would encourage his young people in the Oratory in Turin to receive Holy Communion frequently and fervently so as to eradicate vices—especially that of impurity—and supplant them with holiness. There is no more efficacious means to conquer our vices and sinfulness than frequent, fervent, and faith-filled Holy Communions! “Lord, strengthen my faith!”

5. MIND-TRANSPLANT. The great Apostle Saint Paul exhorts us in these words: “Put on the mind of Christ!” (Phil. 2:5) Then he insists: “You have the mind of Christ.” (1Cor. 2:16) And finally: “Do not conform your mind to this world, but have a fresh way of thinking.” (Rom 12:2) Indeed, if Holy Communion is the Total Christ then that includes the mind of Jesus. If you want to burn away the dross of bad and ugly thoughts, then meditate upon the Word of God and receive Holy Communion as frequently as possible! What chlorine is to a swimming-pool, so the Word of God and Holy Communion is to our mind!

6. SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT. The Prophet Elijah ate the bread that the angel gave him two times and from the energy and strength derived from that bread the great Prophet walked forty days and forty nights. (The same length of time of Jesus spent praying and fasting in the desert.) In an analogous sense, Holy Communion endows and inundates us with spiritual energy so that we can travel with great alacrity and strength on the Highway the Heaven!

7. SPIRITUAL REMEDY AND PREVENTIVE MEDICINE. If we are well-nourished bodily when the flu-season arrives, we have a much better chance to avoid those common colds, coughs, flus, and runny-noses. On one occasion I was about to come down with a cold and some person of good will gave me some Airborne—a potent dose of Vitamin C. Guess what? I avoided the cold that was about to grab hold of me! In a parallel sense, the frequent reception of Holy Communion can serve to bundle us and fortify us against the onslaught of our imperious and disordered passions that constantly strive to inundate us and overwhelm us, inciting us to sin!

8. JOY, PEACE, AND INNER CONSOLATION. As an appetizing and enjoyable meal shared with friends culminates in joy, peace, happiness, and consolation so it is with nourishing our souls on Jesus in Holy Communion, the Bread of Life. This analogy is expressed very clearly by the Angelic Doctor, Saint Thomas Aquinas. The good nourishment that food gives to the body, so does Holy Communion enrich and uplift the soul.

9. REMARKABLE SOURCE AND STRENGTH TO CARRY OUR DAILY CROSS. Jesus addresses the tired, the weary, the burdened, the overwhelmed, those who are experiencing heavy trials and tribulations with these words—related to Holy Mass and Holy Communion: “Come to me all you who are weary and find life burdensome, and I will give your rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your soul. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Mt 11:28-30). So many people have given witness to this fact that in the midst of the trials of life, the sufferings and sorrows, the heart-aches and heart-breaks, running to Jesus in Mass and receiving Him in the Sacrament of Holy Communion served as an inexpressible relief, strength, and source of solace, hope and support! Do not carry your cross alone. Rather, invite Jesus to help you to shoulder the burden by receiving Him into your inner-most being in Holy Communion. “Come Lord Jesus, come!!!”

10. PROMISE OF ETERNAL LIFE: HEAVEN WILL BE OURS FOREVER! What thought can be more consoling than the fact and truth that one day we will be united with Jesus in Heaven! He will be Our God, Savior, Friend, Companion, Teacher, Master, and our Greatest Lover in Heaven. This incredible promise was made by Jesus in His “Bread of Life Discourse” in the Synagogue of Capernaum. (Jn. 6:22-71) These words are most consoling: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes will have eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert and died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one might eat it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. The bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” (Jn. 6:47-51) As clear as the sun at midday are these words of Jesus! If we have established the habit of receiving Jesus in Holy Communion—the Bread of Life that gives life to the world—with hearts filled with deep faith, with hearts full of fiery love and passion—and frequently, as we pray in the Our Father, give us this day our daily bread, then the promise of Jesus is clear! Heaven will be ours forever and ever and ever!

Let us conclude with what the great friends of God, the saints themselves have preached and written on the great importance of frequent and fervent reception of Holy Communion in our lives!

1. Saint Ignatius of Loyola: “One of the most admirable effects of Holy Communion is to preserve the soul from sin and to help those who fall through weakness to rise again. It is much more profitable to approach the divine Sacrament with love, respect, and confidence than to remain away through excess fear and scrupulosity.”

2. Saint Josemaria Escriva: “When you approach the tabernacle remember that He has been waiting for you for twenty centuries.”

3. Saint John Vianney: “All the good works in the world are not equal to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass because they are the works of man; but the Mass is the work of God. Martyrdom is nothing in comparison for it is but the sacrifice of man to God; but the Mass is the sacrifice of God to man.”

4. Saint Maximilian Kolbe: “If the angels could be jealous of men they would be so for one reason: Holy Communion.”

5. Saint Frances De Sales: “When you have received Him, stir up your heart to do Him homage; speak to Him about your spiritual life, gaze upon Him in your soul where He is present for your happiness; welcome Him as warmly as possible, and behave outwardly in such a way that your actions may give proof to all of His Presence.”

In conclusion, the key to holiness in life on your Highway to Heaven is faith-filled, frequent, and fervent reception of Jesus, Holy of Holies and your Best Friend, in Holy Communion. May Our Lady of the Eucharist 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

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

SUNDAY, SEPT. 6th    Mt. 18: 15-20     “I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Today’s meditation is a continuation of yesterday’s meditation on the First Saturday Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary as it relates to today’s Gospel—which is about Fraternal Correction. We should correct people who blaspheme against Mary, and we should also pray for them. And we should indeed honor and participate fully in the First Saturday Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. But we should not stop there!!! We should make every effort possible every day to console the Immaculate Heart of Mary so wounded and offended by mankind.

Fr. Ed Broom provides additional concrete ways for consoling the Immaculate Heart of Mary for us to meditate upon and implement in our lives!

CONSOLE THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

Our Lady is sad, with the deep sorrow of her sorrowful and Immaculate Heart, as she says these words that all of us should seriously take to heart and put into practice: “Sacrifice yourself for sinners and say many times, especially when you make some sacrifice: ‘O Jesus, it is for Thy love for the conversion of sinners and in reparation for the sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.’” (Our Lady of Fatima to the children and to the whole world.)

With these words as an introduction, let us enter into the topic of this specific Marian theme for our reflection, meditation, and prayer.

Our Lady revealed that there were Five Sins against her Immaculate Heart. We will briefly list them and strongly urge all to strive to make due reparation for these sins that wound the Immaculate Heart of our heavenly Mother so deeply. When moral damage is perpetrated due to sin, then in justice we must do all in our power to repair for the damage done.

THE FIVE SINS AGAINST THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY:

1. BLASPHEMES AGAINST THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION.
2. BLASPHEMES AGAINST MARY’S PERPETUAL VIRGINITY.
3. BLASPHEMES AGAINST MARY’S DIVINE MATERNITY, and at the same time, failure to recognize her as Mother of all mankind.
4. THE CHILDREN. Blasphemes against children—all those who try to sow in the hearts of children a coldness, indifference, rejection or even hatred toward their Immaculate Mother Mary.
5.HOLY IMAGES. The offenses of those who aggrieve the Immaculate Mother Mary by damaging and outraging her holy images.

Our Lady appeared six times to three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal, in 1917. Lucia was the oldest of the three, at 10 years of age. The younger two, Francisco and Jacinta, died within two and a half years after Our Lady’s appearances. These words about the five sins against the Immaculate Heart of Mary were spoken to Sister Lucia when she was living in the convent as a nun; they were spoken by Jesus who ardently desires that acts of prayer and reparation be made. The reason? So that those who have so grievously offended Mary, the Mother of Jesus, will beg pardon for these grave sins and thereby receive mercy from the Heart of Jesus.

Common sense tells us that not one of us wants to go before the Lord Jesus on the day of our judgment having grievously offended His Mother Mary! The thought of this should fill us with a reverential Fear of the Lord and an ardent desire to repair for our sins, as well as the sins of the whole world. “For the sake of His Sorrowful Passion, and the sufferings of the sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, have mercy on us and on the whole world.”

Let us now proceed to take each and every one of these Marian offenses, strive to understand the offense, and consider what we can do on our part to offer worthy Acts of Reparation to the Heart of Mary and the Heart of Jesus, whose Sacred Heart was formed in the womb of Mary.

1. BLASPHEMES AGAINST THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION. The Immaculate Conception, one of the four Marian dogmas of the Church, proclaims that the Blessed Virgin Mary from the moment of her conception in the womb of her mother, Saint Anne, was preserved from the stain of Original Sin that all of us contracted from our first parents, Adam and Eve. To repair for those who mock, deride, and make fun of this most profound, sublime, and holy gift that God endowed upon Mary, we suggest these concrete Acts of Reparation.

a) PRAISE AND THANK GOD constantly for having endowed Mary with this most sublime gift! Reflecting on Mary’s Immaculate Conception, purity, and virginity, call to mind the words of the English poet, Wordsworth: “Woman! Above all women glorified, our tainted nature’s solitary boast.”
b) LITURGICAL CELEBRATION. Every year, celebrate and participate with great joy and gratitude in the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on December 8th. This is the day the Church extols and exalts Mary as the Immaculate Conception. Did you know that Mary is the Patroness of the United States of America under her title of the Immaculate Conception?
c) HOLY COMMUNION OF REPARATION. Offer your Holy Communion on that day especially in reparation for all the sins and blasphemes against Mary, the Immaculate Conception.
d) THE MEDAL. Wear with great joy and pride, the medal with the title The Medal of the Immaculate Conception, also known as The Miraculous Medal due to the many miracles attributed to its being worn with trust in Mary. Try to purchase and read the beautiful and inspiring booklet on The Miraculous Medal called Garment of Grace.
e) PRAY THIS PRAYER OFTEN in reparation for the sins against Mary, the Immaculate Conception: “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.” (Words inscribed on the front of the Miraculous Medal.)

2. BLASPHEMES AGAINST MARY’S PERPETUAL VIRGINITY. Another one of the Church’s Marian dogmas, the Perpetual Virginity of Mary, is what the words express. Mary was always a virgin. She was a virgin before the birth of Jesus, during the birth of Jesus, and after the birth of Jesus! Perpetual means ALWAYS! How can we repair for the sins against the Perpetual Virginity of Mary?

a) CLARITY OF EXPRESSION. Be ready and willing to explain to all the meaning of this wonderful privilege given to Mary from God Himself.
b) MODESTY. In imitation of the sublime purity of Mary, let us all strive to live lives of great modesty in the way we dress, walk, speak, and act. This is a great means to repair for sins against the Perpetual Virginity of Mary.
c) PURITY. Jesus said: “Blessed are the pure of heart, for they will see God.” (Mt. 5:8) In ourselves and in our children, let us strive to live lives of great purity. If this is done, we will be able to contemplate the Faces of Jesus and Mary in time and forever in heaven.

3. BLASPHEMES AGAINST MARY’S DIVINE MATERNITY. This is the greatest of all of Mary’s privileges—her Divine Maternity! This means that Mary is truly the Mother of God. This was proclaimed dogmatically at the Council of Ephesus in 431 A.D. Mary was proclaimed as the THEOTOKUS—she who was the vessel that carried God within her as His Mother.

a) LITURGICAL SOLEMNITY. Once again we invite all to make due reparation for the sins and blasphemes against Mary, this time against the Divine Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, by celebrating with preparation, attention, devotion, and joy the Liturgical Solemnity of Mary’s Divine Maternity. Actually, on Christmas Day we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus the Lord, but at the same time, we cannot separate the birth of Jesus from Mary, the mother who gave Him birth—that is to say, Mary’s Divine Maternity. Mary as Mother of God is also celebrated as we usher in the New Year. On January 1st we celebrate both Mary, the Holy Mother of God, and the World Day of Peace.
b) COMMUNION OF REPARATION. On these two days strive to make fervent Holy Communions and offer them in reparation for all the sins against Mary as Mother of God.
c) THE HAIL MARY. Pray the Hail Mary often with the purpose of reparation for the sins of the world, but most especially for the sins against Mary as Mother of God. We specifically call to mind our desire for reparation when praying these words in the second part of the Hail Mary: Holy Mary, Mother of God.
d) ABORTION AND REPARATION. In a real sense, the Divine Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary challenges us to offer Mary’s YES to life in her Divine Maternity to repair for the countless abortions—the destruction of innocent life in the womb. How do we do this? By supporting life from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death.

4. BLASPHEMES AGAINST CHILDREN. All those who try to sow in the hearts of children a coldness, indifference, rejection, or even hatred toward their Immaculate Mother Mary. The words of Jesus expressing His tender love for children resonate in our hearts: “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Mt. 19:14) This scandal of blasphemes against children lacerates the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, especially when adults, particularly those in authority, speak negatively, sarcastically, and derisively as they demean, mock, and make fun of the person of the Blessed Virgin Mary. How much Mary really loves all, but children in a special way, and how much Mary desires their purity, innocence, and the salvation of their immortal souls! It is not by chance that Our Lady of Fatima appeared to three simple shepherd children—Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta!!! Those who cause coldness, indifference, rejection, or worse yet, hatred toward the Blessed Virgin Mary in the hearts of children are indeed committing an outrageous offense. We must offer due reparation to the sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary. The following are some suggestions.

a) BAPTISM. Have your children baptized as soon as possible, thereby transforming them into sons and daughters of God and of Mary.
b) NAME. Why not name your child in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary? Marian names are plentiful: Mary, Marian, Maryanne, Maria, Fatima, Lourdes, Lupe, Concepcion, Dolores, etc. Having Mary’s name brings with it a special blessing!
c) CONSECRATION TO MARY. In the celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism, there is a final Rite of Consecrating the child to Mary. Do it!
d) MARIAN MEDAL. Place on your child, even the little ones, a beautiful medal of Mary.
e) CATECHISM. In the context of catechizing your children, or being a teacher of catechism, tell the children who Mary is. Tell them that besides being the Mother of Jesus, she is their Heavenly Mother. Tell them how much she really loves them! Teach the children to love Mary and to talk to her with much love, devotion, and confidence!

5. SCANDAL AND BLASPHEMES THROUGH THE IMAGES OF MARY. In recent times, there has been a series of blasphemes against images of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Statues have been sprayed or destroyed. Paintings and pictures have been ruined. Possibly even worse, there have been movies and programs that have mocked and blasphemed the Blessed Virgin Mary. How this wounds deeply the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus! It is true that the devil both hates and has a mortal fear of the Blessed Virgin Mary and will do all in his power to blaspheme her, often using human agents or instruments! Let us offer due reparation; here are some suggestions.

a) IMAGES. Buy attractive paintings/pictures of Mary and display them in your home. Why not one for every room!
b) CONSECRATION OF YOUR HOME. Buy a beautiful image of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, then ask a priest to bless it and enthrone it in your home.
c) CONSECRATION OF THE FAMILY. When enthroning the image of Mary in your home, why not invite the priest to formally consecrate your whole family to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus! Make it public; invite other families to the celebration. And do this in reparation for blasphemes against Marian images.
d) CHURCHES. Encourage priests and Pastors to have beautiful images, paintings, and statues of Mary to honor and beautify their churches.
e) HOLY CARDS OF MARY. Buy a good number of attractive Holy Cards of Mary and on the back have written these words of reparation: “Sacrifice yourself for sinners and say many times, especially when you make a sacrifice: ‘O Jesus, it is for Thy love for the conversion of sinners and in reparation for the sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.’” Then pass these out to family and friends and invite them to pray this prayer daily!

We hope and pray that all will have a greater love, respect, devotion, and limitless trust in the power, presence, and prayers of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in our daily lives. Therefore, let us do all in our power to show our great love and tenderness towards our Heavenly Mother by offering due reparation for the many sins committed against her great honor and against her singular role in our eternal salvation!

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

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

SATURDAY, SEPT. 4th   Lk. 6: 1-5  First Saturday Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary – the Purpose and the Promises.

Today we present the First Saturday Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary for the purpose of encouraging the faithful to begin the practice or to continue it with greater love and fervor so as to console the Hearts of Jesus and Mary!

We will present requests by Our Lady and by Jesus to Lucia de los Santos, cousin of St. Francisco and St. Jacinta Marto. Then we will delve into and meditate upon the specific practices and graces of the First Saturday Devotion to Our Lady.

 Part 1: Devotion requested by Our Lady and by Jesus to Lucia de Los Santos.
Part 2: OUR LADY OF FATIMA: FIRST SATURDAY DEVOTION by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

PART 1:

1) DECEMBER 10, 1925.  Our Lady of Fatima appeared to Lucia de los Santos, now a postulant in a convent in Tui, Spain.

 Our Lady requested the institution of the Devotion of the Five First Saturdays in reparation to her Immaculate Heart.

 “See, my daughter, my Heart encircled by thorns with which ungrateful men pierce it at every moment by their blasphemies and ingratitude. Do you, at least, strive to console me. Tell them that I promise to assist at the hour of death with the graces necessary for their salvation, all those who, in order to make reparation to me, on the First Saturday of five successive months, go to Confession, receive Holy Communion, say five decades of the Rosary, and keep me company for a quarter of an hour, meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary.

2) MAY 29, 1930. The purpose of the Devotion is explained to Lucia by Jesus Himself!

 “Daughter, the motive is simple: There are five kinds of offenses and blasphemies spoken against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

First: Blasphemies against the Immaculate Conception.
Second: Blasphemies against her Virginity.
Third: Blasphemies against the Divine Maternity, refusing, at the same time, to receive her as the Mother of mankind.
Fourth: Those who seek publicly to implant, in the hearts of children, indifference, disrespect, and even hate for this Immaculate Mother.
Fifth: Those who revile her directly in her sacred images.

Here, dear daughter, is the motive that led the Immaculate Heart of Mary to petition Me to ask for this small act of reparation. And, out of regard for her, to move My mercy to pardon those souls who have had the misfortune to offend her. As for you, seek endlessly, with your prayers and sacrifices, to move Me to mercy in regard to these poor souls.”

PART 2:

OUR LADY OF FATIMA: FIRST SATURDAY DEVOTION by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

Traditionally Saturday has been a day devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary.  However, the first Saturday of the month has a very special place and prominence in the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

THE FIVE (CONSECUTIVE) FIRST SATURDAYS OF THE MONTH.  Our Lady of Fatima exhorts us to live out the practice of the Five (Consecutive) First Saturdays of the Month Devotion. If done according to her wish, she promises a most extraordinary grace.

WHAT IS THAT EXTRAORDINARY GRACE?  Saint Alphonsus Maria Liguori stated that the grace of all graces is the grace of final perseverance in the grace of God. In simple terms, this means the eternal salvation of your immortal soul. The primary purpose of our existence is the salvation of our soul, to make it safely to heaven. Our Lady has a most ardent desire to help all of us to make it safely home to heaven. However, we must heed with humility, obedience, and faithfulness her simple requests.

WHAT ARE THE REQUESTS AND REQUIREMENTS THAT OUR LADY OF FATIMA ASKS OF US? They are four simple requests, related principally to two basic topics or themes: our Sacramental life, and a life of meditation and prayer. Let us explain now clearly these requirements and then let us try to really live out the Five (Consecutive) First Saturdays of the Month Devotion starting as soon as possible!

1. SACRAMENTAL CONFESSION OF REPARATION.  Mary, Queen of Mercy, wants all of us to have recourse to the Sacrament of the Merciful Heart of Jesus and that is Confession. Therefore, try to examine your conscience thoroughly, and if necessary have a guide booklet. Beg for the grace of sincere, total, and heartfelt sorrow for your sins. Also, have a firm purpose of amendment, in which you try to avoid all occasions of sin, that is to say, persons, places, things, or circumstances that might lead you into sin. Confess your sins to the priest who represents Christ. You are obliged to confess the number and kind of mortal sins. Then do not forget to carry out the penance that the priest imposes on you! This Confession can be made a week before the First Saturday, or a week after. Finally, one very important specification: the Confession must be a CONFESSION OF REPARATION, that is, a Confession made with the intention of reparation for all sins, your sins as well as all the sins that have pierced the Immaculate Heart of Mary. By saying NO to sin, we actually say YES to the love of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.

2. HOLY COMMUNION OF REPARATION.  Our Lady desires ardently that we attend Mass, but she also desires most especially that we receive Holy Communion —the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus her Son. However, there is another specification and it is this, it must be a COMMUNION OF REPARATION. The word reparation refers implicitly to damage done, but this is moral damage and we call this Sin. As soon as we beg God’s mercy and forgiveness for our sins, in a mere heartbeat God forgives. As the Psalmist reminds us: “God is slow to anger and rich in mercy.” (Ps. 103:8) However, this must be said, God’s forgiveness also demands some form of reparation for the sins committed. A simple example! If you break something that does not belong to you—as an example a beautiful statue—then you should apologize to the owner of the statue. But that is not enough! You should be ready and willing to pay for or replace the broken statue. That is what we call Reparation in theological terms. Another example taken from the reception of the Sacraments would be the worthy reception of the Sacrament of Confession. The very last step of making a good confession is that of carrying out the penance that was imposed on you by the Confessor. This penance carried out fully and willingly is a sign of repentance, but also a concrete sign of one’s desire to strive to repair for the damage done by the sins committed. Likewise, the Communion received on five consecutive First Saturdays of the month should be received with the desire to offer reparation for all the sins against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

3. THE RECITATION OF THE MOST HOLY ROSARY.  Another condition required to attain the enormous blessings of the Promise associated with the Five (Consecutive) First Saturdays of the Month Devotion is the recitation of the most Holy Rosary. An interesting note on the Holy Rosary! In Fatima, 1917, Our Lady appeared to three children—Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta—six times, from May 13th through October 13th. In every one of the six apparitions, Our Lady insisted on the praying of the most Holy Rosary. Saint Pope John Paul II in his beautiful document on the Rosary reiterated the desire of Our Lady that the world pray the Rosary, especially in the context of the family. The great Pontiff begged the world to pray the Holy Rosary for two specific intentions: 1) World Peace; 2) Salvation of the Family, quoting Father Patrick Peyton: “The family that prays together, stays together.” Returning to Our Lady of Fatima and the Five (Consecutive) First Saturdays Devotion, Mary also desires that this Rosary be offered in reparation for sins against her Immaculate Heart. When we say pray the Rosary, we mean pray five decades on five Mysteries from a total of twenty Mysteries of the Rosary. Our Lady wants us to go deeper and deeper in our union with her Immaculate Heart and the Heart of Jesus. This is done through prayer!

4. MEDITATION ON THE MYSTERIES OF THE ROSARY.  The final requirement for the Five (Consecutive) First Saturdays Devotion is that of spending at least fifteen minutes meditating upon the mysteries, or at least one of the mysteries, of the most Holy Rosary. Even though not expressed explicitly, one of the primary reasons for this quiet meditation of at least 15 minutes is for us to go deeper in the profound meaning of these mysteries. Saint Pope John XXIII said that the Rosary is a summary of the Gospel itself! Indeed, if we truly want to know Jesus and Mary, love them, be willing to imitate and follow them, it is necessary to spend time thinking about their lives and actions. This is done most efficaciously by meditating on the Mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary.

In conclusion, if we carry out this practice, the extraordinary graces that Our Lady of Fatima promises to you and to me are the following, and these are her exact words: “I promise to assist at the hour of death with the graces necessary for salvation.” In concrete, this means that at the most important moment of our earthly existence, which is the very moment that we die and pass from this life to the next to be judged by Jesus, who will come to judge the living and the dead, Our Lady will be present and she will attain for us the grace of all graces, the grace of FINAL PERSEVERANCE!!! This means that she will attain for our hearts sincere sorrow for our sins, true repentance, and great love of God. Thereby we will attain the purpose of our life—the eternal salvation of our immortal soul!!!   

For this reason, we invite all to undertake the wonderful practice of the Five (Consecutive) First Saturdays Devotion of Our Lady of Fatima. If done, we will be united with her in heaven for all eternity to praise the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit!

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