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

TUESDAY, AUGUST 25th  Mt. 23:23-26 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You cleanse the outside of cup and dish, but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence.”

Jesus is unmasking the hypocrisy and pride of the scribes and Pharisees.

Catholic theologian Garrigou-Lagrange, O.P. (+1964) warns us of the dangers of pride.

“It gives us such confidence in our reason and judgment that we are not very willing to consult others, especially our superiors, or to enlighten ourselves by the attentive and benevolent examination of reasons or facts which may be urged against us. It leads also to asperity in discussions, to stubbornness in judgment, to disparagement which excludes in a cutting tone all that does not fit in with our manner of seeing things. This state of mind leads to manifest imprudent acts that will have to be painfully expiated.” 

Garrigou-Lagrange contrasts growth in our natural life with growth in our spiritual life.

In our natural life, maturing means leaving the embrace of mother and father and moving from dependence on our parents to independence and autonomy.

Growth in the spiritual life is a contrary movement… In our spiritual life, maturing means moving from a false autonomy of self-sufficiency to throwing ourselves into the arms of our Heavenly Father and Holy Mother Church (Mater Ecclesia), embracing our total dependence on God by means of obedience to the commandments and the teachings of our Holy Church, under the leadership of our Holy Father and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. (cf Jn. 14:16-17, 26)

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (Jn 3:16) How intimately and tenderly God loves us: with a love that is defenseless and inexhaustible, a love that shows us mercy and forgiveness while we are yet sinners, a love that gives us a sure path to heaven through the commandments and the teachings of His Holy Church guided by the Holy Spirit!

For this reason, Jesus says: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt. 18:3)

LESSONS FROM THE CHILD JESUS: GOD’S WISDOM! By Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

Jesus stated it very clearly: “Unless you become like a child you cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Mt. 18:3) Also, on one occasion, the Apostles were trying to prevent the children from coming to Jesus, the Lord said forcefully: “Let the children come to me; if you do not become like a little child you cannot enter the Kingdom of God.” (Mt. 19:14)

OUR LADY OF FATIMA AND CHILDREN.  One of the most famous, modern approved apparitions is that of Our Lady of Fatima. God sent His Mother from heaven to a little town in Portugal, Fatima, in the year 1917, six times from May 13 thru October 13. Who did Our Lady appear to? The brilliant? The scholars? The rich and important? The flashy and ostentatious? To none of these did Our Lady appear. Rather, she appeared to three little children—tenders of sheep, and with no formal education! God’s ways are not our ways—this is certain!

GOD’S PROVIDENTIAL DESIGN.  God could have chosen any one of limitless possibilities to ransom or save humanity after the sin of our first parents, Adam and Eve, that we call Original Sin. God could have come as a powerful King, or a rich millionaire, or a brilliant genius, or a plethora of other flashy, fantastic ways! But no! God’s ways are as different from our ways as the heavens are above the earth! In His Providential Design, God willed to save the world by what theologians call The Incarnation—meaning? That God willed to become one of us, to become a man like all of us with one exception—He was born without sin, lived a sinless life, and died on the cross to save us from our sins!

AS A CHILD.  Furthermore, God willed to enter the world by the same means by which we entered the world—through a woman. God chose Mary to be the channel by which He would enter humanity. The Ever Virgin Mary conceived Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit and maintained her virginity even in the moment of giving birth to Jesus. Indeed, she was ever virgin before, during, and after the birth of Christ. 

JESUS THE CHILD—THE SON OF GOD.  Jesus was the baby born of Mary. This Virgin Mother took Him in her tender arms, wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and nestled Him close to her most pure and Immaculate Heart. Then Mary placed Jesus on the hay in the manger. The word manger comes from French and means to eat! It was the feeding trough of the animals. Later on, as a man, Jesus would challenge people to nourish themselves on His Body and Blood if they wanted to live, and live forever. “I am the Bread of life. Whoever eats my Body and drinks my Blood will have everlasting life and I will raise Him up on the last day.” (Jn. 6: 22-71—Bread of life discourse).

BETHLEHEM: HOUSE OF BREAD.  There are no coincidences or unplanned circumstances in God’s providential designs. The word Bethlehem actually means House of Bread. No surprise that Jesus, who was born in the city of the House of Bread, would declare Himself the Bread of life and challenge us that our eternal salvation hinges upon our consuming Him in Mass and Holy Communion as the Bread of Life.

IMPORTANT LESSONS FOR US FROM THE CHILD JESUS.

There are many lessons to learn from God becoming man, being in the womb of Mary for nine months, and finally being born as a little Baby. Let us dig deep into this goldmine of wealth and derive abundant treasures for our meditation and imitation, transformation and sanctification, and perseverance!  What then are the lessons of the Infant-Child Jesus?

1. DEPENDENCY. Even though the Baby Jesus was God, the Son of God made man, still He made Himself totally dependent on others, most especially Mary and Saint Joseph. Jesus would live this attitude of dependency on His Heavenly Father during the whole course of His life. In our spiritual lives we must develop and cultivate a child-like dependency on God in all times, places, and circumstances. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus challenges us to trust by contemplating nature—the lilies of the field who neither labor nor spin and the birds of the air who neither sow nor reap…yet our Heavenly Father provides for them. (Mt 6:25-34). In contrast, in His Public life, Jesus had no permanent home, saying: The foxes have their holes and the birds of the air their nests, but the Son of man has nowhere to rest His head. (Lk. 9:58)

2. HUMILITY. The littleness of the Child-Jesus is an extraordinary example of humility. God loves the humble but casts down the mighty from their thrones. (Mary’s Magnificat Lk. 1:52) He chose the Publican over the Pharisee, humility over an overweening pride. (Lk. 18:9-14) As a man, Jesus described His own Sacred Heart using two descriptions: “I am meek and humble of heart.” (Mt. 11:29) Arrogance, conceit, haughtiness, and self-importance are all alien to the person of the child, and most especially the Child-Jesus!  May He inspire us to pursue a life of great humility!

3. POVERTY. Once again, even though Jesus was, is, and always will be God, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, He chose to enter the portals of this world not in a palace, castle, or an opulent mansion. On the contrary, He entered this world being born in a stable that served as a refuge for animals. A good part of the warmth of that little cave was the heat from and the breath of the animals there present! We must learn that pursuing money, possessions, power, and esteem will not fill us with authentic joy. Pleasure, yes, but true joy never! The Child Jesus, born in Bethlehem teaches us that we will find true happiness not in the created world, but in the Creator of the world—Jesus the Lord. Ven. Archbishop Fulton Sheen penned it so eloquently: The Creator of the universe had no place to be born in His own creation!

4. INNOCENCE. In a world where innocence is being lost, even among the children, due to an uncontrolled use of modern technology, the Infant Jesus teaches us clearly and unequivocally the importance of striving to live lives of innocence—freedom from sin! Still more, the Innocent Child Jesus in the arms of Mother Mary challenges us to strive to protect the innocence of our children threatened by so many modern wolves!

5. CHILDLIKE SIMPLICITY: INSPIRING TRUST. In the overly complicated world that we have created, we should all long for a more simple, humble, frugal, transparent, as well as detached life-style. Models for us would be Saint Francis of Assisi, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and the children of Fatima—Saints Jacinta and Francisco Marto, and their cousin Lucia De los Santos. By contemplating the Little Baby Jesus resting peacefully in the arms of His loving Mother, may we learn to strive for Evangelical Poverty and simplicity. Saint Ignatius of Loyola points out that nobody is afraid to approach an innocent little Baby – a strong, aggressive warrior, most-likely – but not an innocent little Baby.

May the Infant Baby Jesus resting in the loving and tender arms of His Mother Mary inspire us to greater trust, greater dependency on our Heavenly Father! Greater humility, greater simplicity, and a life of detachment from things, so that we can be totally anchored and rooted in God our Father!

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

Photo: St Mary in Villacella (Chiesa Nuova) Rome

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

MONDAY, AUGUST 24^th  Jn. 1:45-51 Feast of St. Bartholomew “Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.” (Responsorial Psalm)

 Part 1: Words of Encouragement to Bring Us Joy by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV… Sad Christians will never bring others to Christ!

Part 2: Reflection on the Call of Nathanael (St. Bartholomew)

Part 3. Christians are Small People by Servant of God Madeleine Delbrel

WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT TO BRING US JOY! by Fr. Ed. Broom, OMV

“If God is with us who can be against us?” (Rom 8:31). “Our help us in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth” (Ps 124:8). “The Lord is my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall want” (Ps. 23:1). “The Lord is my Light and my strength” (Ps. 27:1). “Surely, I will be with you always, even until the end of time” (Mt. 28:20). “Have courage: I have conquered the world” (Jn. 16:33). “Rejoice in the Lord! I say it again: rejoice in the Lord” (Phil 4:4). “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (Mt. 24:35). “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” (Lk. 1:46-47).

All of the above short but potent phrases come from the Bible, which is the living Word of God. No doubt these words give courage, comfort, strength and abundant consolation. As a sequel to the topic of encouragement, let us offer ten short reasons why we should be rejoicing constantly even when plunged in a series of complications, contradictions and crosses.

TEN SHORT REASONS TO REJOICE CONSTANTLY ON OUR PATHWAY TO HEAVEN!

1. HEAVEN. First and foremost, let us constantly remind ourselves as to our final destiny and the most consoling words of Jesus, Our Lord, God, Savior and Best Friend: “I am going to prepare a place for you so that where I am you also might be.” (Jn. 14:3) That place is Heaven. Reflecting on being with Jesus, Mary, the angels and saints in heaven should fill us with an overflowing joy and hope.

2. SAINTS. You are never alone in the least. In all times, places and circumstances, your friends, the saints are present to you. They are ready and willing to lend a hand. Call upon them! Invoke them and they will turn to God to attain for you all the graces you need in the moment.

3. JESUS IN THE TABERNACLE. Once again, you are never alone, but sometimes Jesus in the Tabernacle suffers loneliness because all too few come to visit Him. However, once you give Jesus some time visiting Him, He will fill you with joy in His Presence. In the words of the Psalmist: “Look to the Lord and you will be filled with joy!” (Ps. 16:11)

4. THE WORD OF GOD. How fortunate indeed, better yet, how blessed we are to live in a time when all can have easy access to the Bible and even to have our own Bible. The Word of God gives light, encouragement, counsel, correction, insight, admonition, and serves as a sure bridge to unite time with eternity. If you find yourself down and in the dumps, pick up the Bible, the Word of God, read, meditate and God will speak to your heart.  “The Lord is my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall want.” (Ps. 23:1)

5. CONFESSION. No doubt we are sinners and the just man falls seven times a day. However, how encouraging the words of Saint Paul to the Romans: “Where sin abounds, the mercy of God abounds all the more.” (Rom. 5:20) And also: “God is slow to anger and rich in kindness and mercy. (Ps. 145:8) If we fall: NUNC CAEPI!!! I will start again; I will get up and return to the loving embrace of my Heavenly Father, as so beautifully presented in the Parable of the Prodigal Son, which can aptly be titled, the Parable of the Merciful Father. (Lk. 15:11-32)

6. THE SUNRISE AND LIGHT OF THE NEW DAY. As the sun rises every day, we call to mind the many times during the course of the day that a Catholic priest is lifting up Jesus, “The Sun of God” in the Mass in the moment of consecration. Every time the Host is lifted, may Jesus, the Sun of God be that bright star that rises in your heart!

7. FAITHFUL FRIENDS. We should call to mind the faithful friends, that we might even call “The Good Samaritans” (Lk. 10:25-37), that the good Lord has placed on the Highway of our life to lift us up, direct us, orient us, and possibly correct us. How many of these good persons, friends indeed, has God purposely planted in our way to become for us sure signposts to God? “Let us give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His mercy endures forever.” (Ps. 136:1)

8. THE HOLY EUCHARIST. And of the greatest importance in our lives is the reality of the most Holy Eucharist. Remember the classical words: The Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. Every consecrated Host is truly and substantially the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. However, Jesus rejoices most exceedingly when He enters into the depths of the heart of the person who truly loves Him. This should be our constant goal: to receive Jesus, the true Bread of Life, as often as possible. However, every Holy Communion received, should be received with greater fervor, devotion and love. The fire of love for the Eucharistic Lord should never wane and be blown out, but rather be transformed into a living conflagration—a wildfire of love for the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings!

9. THE COMPANY OF THE ANGELS. Sacred Scripture mentions three specific Archangels: St. Michael, meaning, Who is like unto God; St. Gabriel, Power of God; St. Raphael, Medicine of God. Only these three are named in the Bible among the countless number of angels in heaven. However, all these many angels in Heaven ardently desire to become your friends. They want to do all that is possible to help you arrive at your final destiny—Heaven. One of them is your Guardian Angel! Let us strive to be more aware of these Heavenly friends and invite them to be with us, to inspire us, to protect us, to console us and to point us always in the right direction towards Heaven.

10. MARY: THE QUEEN OF ANGELS AND THE QUEEN OF SAINTS. Among the many titles given to Mary is that of Queen of angels and Queen of saints. We also cry out to Mary in these consoling words: “Hail Holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope.” Saint Therese of Lisieux pointed out Mary’s relationship to us in these words: “Mary indeed is Queen, but she is more Mother than Queen.” What overflowing and constant joy we should experience, keenly aware of the fact that Mother Mary is always, like at the Wedding Feast of Cana, ready to pray for us and intercede for us so that the bitter waters of our lives are transformed into the sweetest and the most exquisite of wines. Mother Mary, take me by the hand and place it in the Hand of Jesus my Lord, God, Friend, and Savior! Amen.

 PART 2: Reflection on the Call of Nathanael (St. Bartholomew)

• Are we friends of the Lord? Do we make known the glorious splendor of His Kingdom? Philip finds Nathanael and tells him, “We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the Prophets, Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth.”
• Nathanael’s reaction is, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” It was an insignificant village in the time of Jesus. Philip simply says, “Come and see.” He wants his friend to see and hear Jesus for himself.
• The Lord used Andrew to call his brother Peter. Now He uses Philip to call his friend Nathanael, later known as the Apostle Bartholomew. Who did the Lord use to call you to Him? Perhaps a parent or grandparent? A brother or sister? A priest? A friend? Your spouse? Let us thank God for the people who were instrumental in bringing us to the Lord!
• Has the Lord used you to call others to Him? Maybe a person new to the faith, or a person fallen away from the faith? Perhaps He wants you to say to someone right now, “Come and see.” Come to Mass with me… Come to confession with me… Come take the Spiritual Exercises with me on line – accompany them, walk with them through this life-transforming program so they can come to know Jesus more intimately, love Him more ardently, and follow Him more closely! Maybe you’re thinking, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” The Lord’s response is a resounding Yes!
• When we appear before Jesus in judgment, He will ask us this question, “Where are your children?” Meaning, where are your spiritual children! Everyone is called to be a spiritual father or mother! We should all have children in heaven! Who is it that we have invited to “come and see” the Lord… or return to the Lord… or encounter the Lord in a deeper way… or accept His mercy when death was approaching by bringing a priest to give them the last sacraments – Confession, Holy Communion, Anointing of the Sick? Who is it that we are offering countless tears, prayers and sacrifices for so they may be saved, like Monica praying for Augustine???
• Nathanael doesn’t commit to anything, he only agrees to come and see. Sometimes that is all it takes! Jesus says, “Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him.” Surprised Nathanael asks, “How do you know me?” “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.”
• Nathanael knows this is impossible, he wasn’t anywhere near Jesus! “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the king of Israel!” Nathanael goes from doubter to believer in an instant, because there is no duplicity in him! Sometimes we don’t believe because we don’t want to believe – we’re afraid of what Jesus might ask of us – we don’t want to give up our way of life, our self-love, our self-will, perhaps even certain sins.
• The psalmist says, “The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.” He is near to all who have no duplicity in them. We must come before the Lord in humility and honesty – ready to hear and deal with the truth! The truth hurts. The truth is a two edged sword, both wounding us and setting us free with self-knowledge!
• What is this self-knowledge? That we are small. All the good that we do is God’s grace; all we have that is our own, is our sins. Servant of God Madeleine Delbrel articulates this truth clearly! We cannot meditate on this too often. We can only beg to believe this with our whole heart and live this with our whole being!

 PART 3: Christians are Small People… by Servant of God Madeleine Delbrel (+1964)

The law of Christ may only be lived by people who are gentle and humble of heart. It is this gentleness and humility which are the characteristics of Jesus Christ in His filial love for God and His fraternal love for human beings. 

Whatever their personal gifts, Christians are small people. Small people, whatever their place in society, their jobs, their possessions, their class, their race, whatever the development and power of the human sciences, whatever the discoveries concerning the prodigious evolution of the human race and its history – in spite of all this, Christians remain people who are small.

Small in God’s presence because God created them and they depend on Him. Whatever the journeys that mark their lives and their fortunes, they came from God and they are going to God. They are gentle like weak, loving children, close to their Father who is strong and loving. They are small because they know that they are in God’s presence and they know only a few things, can do only a few things, and are limited in their love and in their knowledge. 

They do not argue about the will of God in the events that happen, nor do they argue about what Christ has commanded them to do, so that in these events they may themselves, for their part, do the will of God. They are gentle like the trusted and active performers of a work, the enormousness of which is hidden from them, while yet they know their own particular task.  End of Reflection

• For this reason, Jesus says to Nathanael: “You will see greater things than this. Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
• When we are “gentle like weak, loving children, close to their Father who is strong and loving” we see with the eyes of child-like faith the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man in the hands of the priest at the Consecration in every Mass and we adore Him!
• We see the angels of God surrounding the Son of Man in the tabernacle, the Holy of Holies! The angels etched on the glass doors behind the altar at St. Peter Chanel Church are kneeling in adoration before Jesus’ real Presence in the tabernacle, a constant reminder of this supernatural reality, and we adore Him!
• Let us beg Mary our Mother for the eyes and heart of child-like faith to see these supernatural realities. Then, let us ask others with conviction to “come and see” what we have seen!

 

 

Photo: Flag of Vatican City. The Vatican coat of arms lies within the white band of the flag. It depicts the papal tiara above crossed gold and silver keys (the Keys to Heaven given by Jesus to St. Peter). The gold key represents spiritual power and the silver worldly power. The silver key always points towards the yellow band of the flag. A red cord connects the two keys, which according to vatican.va: “alludes to the bond between the two powers.”

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

SUNDAY, AUGUST 23^rd   Mt. 16: 13-20 “He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’”

• Simon responds: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus says, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.”

Reflection on Peter by Erasmo Leiva-Merikakis, now known as Father Simeon, Cistercian monk…

Out on the stormy lake Jesus already accomplished for the private person of Peter what He now promises He will accomplish for the whole Church through Peter. Peter can show the Church how to battle against death because he knows what it is like to have been almost swallowed up by death. Out of this experience came the permanent awareness in Peter that the only thing stronger than the destructiveness of death is the saving presence of the Lord.

Peter has already hit rock bottom and out of the depths of his despair has prayed the essential prayer: “Lord, save me!” His authority henceforth rests on the unique power possessed by someone who, having been lost, has been saved and can thus show the path of salvation to others.

In a moment Peter will be called “Satan” by Jesus for thoughtlessly rejecting the need for the Passion. We will then have to remember that Christ, as one who knows the heart of man only too well, is here promising Peter in advance that even his personal errors and infidelities cannot be stronger than the foundation that Christ is establishing through him and on him.

It is clearly Christ’s own choice and action, together with Peter’s own bitter experience of personal insufficiency, that make Peter indefectible (indestructible and unchanging). It appears that Peter’s only personal talent is for bravado and instability. But if death itself, by Christ’s promise, cannot “prevail against the Church” and the will of God, all the less can Peter’s weaknesses and blindness invalidate Christ’s mandate!

• So Peter as Pope and his successors (and there have been 266 including Pope Francis) are indefectible (indestructible and unchanging) guided and inspired by the Holy Spirit when they speak on matters of faith, doctrine, and morals. If death itself, by Christ’s promise, cannot “prevail against the Church” and the will of God, neither can any “weaknesses and blindness” of 266 Popes in succession invalidate Christ’s mandate!
• Furthermore, the Bishops speaking in union with the Pope, and only in union with the Pope, also speak infallibly on matters of faith, doctrine, and morals. The Bishops on their own and in contradiction to the Pope do not speak infallibly. The essential visible person on earth is the Pope – the Vicar of Christ, Vicarius Christi!

CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH…

CCC 881: The Lord made Simon alone, whom he named Peter, the “rock” of his Church. He gave him the keys of his Church and instituted him shepherd of the whole flock. “The office of binding and loosing which was given to Peter was also assigned to the college of apostles united to its head (LG).” This pastoral office of Peter and the other apostles belongs to the Church’s very foundation and is continued by the bishops under the primacy of the Pope.

CCC 882: The Pope, Bishop of Rome and Peter’s successor, “is the perpetual and visible source and foundation of the unity both of the bishops and of the whole company of the faithful (LG).” “For the Roman Pontiff, by reason of his office as Vicar of Christ, and as pastor of the entire Church has full, supreme, and universal power over the whole Church, a power which he can always exercise unhindered (LG).”

CCC 883: “The college or body of bishops has no authority unless united with the Roman Pontiff, Peter’s successor, as its head (LG).” As such, this college has “supreme and full authority over the universal Church; but this power cannot be exercised without the agreement of the Roman Pontiff (LG).”  

Editor’s Note: LG stands for Lumen Gentium, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church – “The Mystery of the Church”.

The four major constitutions of Vatican Council II are: Lumen Gentium (The Church), Sacrosanctum Concilium (Sacred Liturgy), Dei verbum (Divine Revelation), and Gaudium et spes (The Modern World). It is incumbent on all Catholics to read these four major documents of the Church Council.

Jesus asked His disciples this question, and now Jesus is asking you this question: “Who do you say that I am?”

• First, do I recognize Christ is Head of the Church in Heaven and the Pope is the Vicar of Christ and head of the Church on earth? When the Pope speaks on matters of faith, doctrine, and morals, do I hear Jesus speaking to me? This is Church teaching. Beg for the grace to receive our Holy Father’s teachings on faith, doctrine, and morals as coming from Christ Himself. Pray for the Pope daily!
• Second, who is Jesus to me? Who has He been to me in the past? Who He is to me now? How has my relationship with Jesus changed over time? How do I feel about this? Talk to Jesus about this. This is prayer. Looking at my life with Jesus, asking Him to walk with me, to help me do the good that He has called me to do – in my work and family life, in my prayer and penitential life, in my Sacramental life. Ask Him for encouragement and strength along the way!
• With every Confession and every Holy Communion (hopefully both are frequent) ask Jesus to help you love Him more and more! Every day ask Our Blessed Mother to help you draw closer to her Son, Jesus – a prayer she never fails to answer!
• Finally, trust Jesus to do what you cannot do… Read these thoughts written by a saint and be encouraged!

 Jesus Calls Us Over And Over Again by Saint Cardinal Henry Newman

For in truth we are not called once only, but many times; all through our life Christ is calling us. He called us first in Baptism; but afterwards also; whether we obey His voice or not, He graciously calls us still. If we fall from our Baptism, He calls us to repent; if we are striving to fulfill our calling, He calls us on from grace to grace, and from holiness to holiness, while life is given us.

Abraham was called from his home, Peter from his nets, Matthew from his office, Elisha from his farm, Nathanael from his retreat; we are all in the course of calling, on and on, from one thing to another, having no resting-place, but mounting towards our eternal rest, and obeying one command only to have another put upon us.

He calls us again and again, in order to justify us again and again—and again and again, and more and more, to sanctify and glorify us.

End of Reflection.

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

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

SATURDAY, AUGUST 22^ND   Mt. 23:1-12 The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary   “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

As we celebrate the Queenship of Mary, we see the humble virgin exalted above all others. “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.

POWER OF THE KING AND THE QUEEN!   By Father Ed Broom, OMV

The last two Glorious mysteries of the most Holy Rosary are the Assumption of Mary into heaven, body and soul, proclaimed as the fourth Marian Dogma, November 1, 1950; following the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven ensues very logically the Coronation or crowning of the Blessed Virgin Mary in heaven. These are two Marian mysteries, as well as Liturgical Feasts, that should fill our hearts with immense joy.

Liturgically one follows the other. The Church celebrates the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven in the summer, in the center of the month of August, the 15th. Precisely a week later the Church celebrates the Crowning of Mary in heaven!

Jesus Christ is the King of the Universe. This feast we celebrate the last Sunday of the Church year. As Universal King, Jesus has power, dominion, and authority in heaven as well as on earth. But it is true that the King has great respect and love for the Queen. Therefore, when Mary the Queen lifts her gaze to Christ the King, there is power and authority. This being the case, we should lift our gaze to Mary and beg her for special graces; she will be quick to come to our aid. In the Memorare, a beautiful Marian prayer attributed to Saint Bernard, we pray: “Never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection was left unaided.” With this limitless trust in Our Lady as Queen, who has the quickest access to Jesus as King, let us joyfully turn to Mary and beg for the following special graces.

1. TEACH US TO PRAY AND PRAY FOR US.  
High on our list of intentions should be to beg Our Lady, the Queen of angels and saints, to pray for us both now and at the hour of our death, but also we should beg her to teach us the art of prayer, to pray more, to pray better, and to have an ardent desire and longing for prayer. Mary’s life was totally imbued with the radiance and splendor of prayer – which is union with God.

2. PROTECT US SECURELY FROM THE ENEMIES OF OUR SALVATION. 
The devil, the flesh, and the world are our constant and persistent enemies. First, the devil can easily play mind games with all of us and tempt us insistently, especially when we are in a state of desolation. Second, the flesh does not want to obey the spirit. If the flesh wins, the result is slavery; but if the spirit proves victorious there results inner peace of soul. Third, the world tries to seduce us into believing that true happiness can be found here on earth, an empty promise that leaves us sad and bitter. These are the three enemies of our salvation. Our Lady can help us in our fight against the lies of these enemies, a fight that will last until we die. When we invoke Mary as Queen in our temptations, she can crush the head of the ancient serpent or the devil. (Gen. 3:15) Our Lady can help us through her prayers to arrive at the self-control of our body and our passions that all of us are called to master. Finally, Our Lady of Lourdes told Saint Bernadette in unequivocal terms: “I cannot promise you happiness in this life, but in the next.” Let us lift our gaze to Mary as Queen and she will help us lift our gaze towards heaven, our true and eternal home, and we will begin to know the peace that passes understanding and the joy that no one can take from us! Therefore, let us seek protection under the mantle of Mary, the Queen of the universe.

3. MARY MOST HOLY, MARY MOST PURE.
Today, unfortunately, we live in a world with many temptations and one of the primary temptations is against the virtue of purity. To be blunt and to the point: we live in a pornographic world. Movies, TV, billboards, magazines, modern dress fashions, and most especially, access to the internet, are all easy channels leading to the viewing of impure images; leading, of course, to impure actions. In this constant battle, we have Our Lady Queen of angels, Queen of saints, Queen of Martyrs, and finally, Queen of Virgins as our sure refuge. A well-known writer and speaker stated that whenever he went to visit a bookstore, he felt an irresistible tug to browse through the pornographic magazines. Despite his knowing that this was wrong, the tug toward this forbidden fruit was irresistible. Until something happened: he started to pray the most Holy Rosary. From that moment on, he never again felt the tug or the desire to seek out those types of magazines in his visits to bookstores! In this we see the power of the intercession of Mary the Queen, Mary the holy Virgin. Therefore, in your battle for the virtue of purity, lift up your heart, mind, and soul to Mary, especially by praying the holy Rosary!

4. MARY AND YOUR APOSTOLIC LIFE.
Not only are we called to love God, but also we are called to love our neighbor. The greatest good that we can wish for our neighbor is the salvation of their soul. As Our Lady went in haste to help her cousin Elizabeth in the hill country, so she can help us move in haste to bring souls to God. If we really love Jesus and Mary, we will love what they love most – the salvation of immortal souls! One soul is worth more than the whole created universe because it was saved and redeemed by the Precious Blood of Jesus, the same Blood that Mary gave to Jesus in His humanity. Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Saint Louis de Montfort, Saint Anthony Mary Claret, Saint Alphonsus Maria Liguori – all of these saints had two important elements in common: great love and devotion to Mary as Queen, and an ardent desire for the salvation of souls. May Our Lady’s prayers spark in us the fire of apostolic zeal!

5. THE GRACE OF ALL GRACES: A HAPPY AND HOLY DEATH!
Of greatest importance for all of us is to get to heaven; there is nothing greater than this spiritual endeavor or pursuit! Indeed, every time we pray the HAIL MARY we are preparing ourselves to meet our Creator, we are preparing ourselves for the most important moment of our life – the moment we will die, as we pray: “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.” Therefore, if we pray five decades of the Rosary daily, we are actually preparing ourselves for our death fifty times every day. No doubt, Our Lady will help us to attain the grace of all graces, the grace of a holy and happy death, and that means that heaven will be ours for all eternity. Mary is Queen of all hearts; starting today, may she be the Queen of your heart!

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

Photo: The Cathedral of Milan is dedicated to the Nativity of Our Lady. Inside the cathedral you will find a replica of the Golden Madonna statue that is equal in size as the Golden Madonna on the top spire of the Cathedral. See picture below.

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

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21^st   Mt. 22:34-40    “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first Commandment. The second is like it. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

How are we to live these two greatest commandments? God created each one of us out of love and desires that we love Him in return. It is said that imitation is the sincerest form of love and praise, which is why the book Imitation of Christ is the second most purchased and read book after the Bible! In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says: “Be holy as your heavenly Father is holy.” (Mt. 5:48) Then in Matthew Chapters 5, 6 and 7 Jesus devotes Himself to schooling us in holiness.

Therefore, today’s meditation is on becoming holy!

BE HOLY AS YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER IS HOLY! By Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

All of us are called to become saints. How do we know? Jesus commanded us: “Be holy as your heavenly Father is holy.” In other words: Become a saint!  Most saints have not been officially canonized, but are anonymous, unknown except by God alone.

Given that this is a serious command given by Jesus Himself, to be holy, to become a saint, let us briefly highlight ten of the most salient notes or characteristics of the saints. This will serve to motivate each and every one of us to become whom God has called us to be—a saint!

1. ANTITHESIS OF SAINTLINESS: SIN. Let us start with the negative. Saints have an abhorrence; they truly detest the one major evil in the world—the reality of sin. Modern culture glamorizes and even promotes sin; the saints fight against it. The motto of Saint Dominic Savio for his first Holy Communion was the following immortal assertion: DEATH RATHER THAN SIN!

2. PRAYER! It is absolutely impossible to come across or read the life of any saint who did not take their prayer life seriously and spend sizable blocks of time dedicated to prayer—which is union and friendship with God! (Saint Teresa of Avila) Face it, we can all improve in our prayer life. We can pray more and we can always pray better. May the Holy Spirit enlighten and inspire us to upgrade our prayer life in our pursuit of holiness.

3. HUMILITY. Saints are truly humble. By humility we mean the following. Saints attribute all the good that they have done to God, the origin, author and end of all good. When complimented on any good done, almost spontaneously a saint responds: Thanks be to God!

4. HUNGER FOR HOLINESS. An authentic saint has a real hunger and thirst for exactly that—holiness, to become a saint. If you like, the saint lives out the first verse of Psalm 42: “As the deer yearns for the running waters, so my soul yearns for you, O Lord, my God.” A saint admits that they are not a saint, but they really long to be a saint one day. This longing, this yearning indeed is half the battle of attaining the crown of holiness, the triumph of winning the crown of saintliness. Many yearn for money, power, pleasure, success, and possessions. Not so for the saint! They want to love God fully, totally, and unreservedly; they long to be the saint that God has called them to be!

5. CHARITY. The saint is motivated to assimilate and to carry out in word and deed the greatest of the Commandments—the command to love both God and neighbor. If you want to see a graphic image of charity then lift up your eyes to Jesus crucified, Jesus hanging from the cross, and you have a clear image of charity. We are called to love God totally and to love our neighbor as ourselves. On one occasion, Jesus appeared to Saint Thomas Aquinas after he had completed enormous accomplishments. Jesus asked the saint what gift he desired most. Immediately Aquinas responded: Love, grant me the grace to love you more and more each day.” Saint John of the Cross asserted: “In the twilight of our existence, we will be judged on love.” Saint Frances de Sales adds to this in these words: “The measure that we should love God with is to love Him without measure.”

6. ZEAL FOR THE SALVATION OF SOULS. Two saints met, one was a youngster, the other a priest. The youngster looked up and saw on the wall a few words written in Latin. He asked the priest what those words were and what they meant. The priest responded by saying those words were his motto and they were: “Give me souls and take all the rest away.” The priest was Saint John Bosco; the youngster, Saint Dominic Savio. An authentic saint loves God and loves what God loves—the salvation of immortal souls. One soul is worth more than all the created universe! The reason for the excruciating pain that Jesus suffered in His Passion and the outpouring of His most Precious Blood was precisely for this: to save immortal souls for all eternity. The stigmata for fifty years of Saint Padre Pio; the 13-18 hours daily spent in the Confessional in the life of Saint John Vianney, the Cure of Ars; the heroic sacrifices of the three children of Fatima; the victimhood of Saint Faustina—had one motivational reason and force: the love of God and hunger and thirst for the salvation of souls!

7. STRUGGLING SINNERS THAT RISE WHEN THEY FALL. Many have been deceived into an artificial, sugar-sweet, somewhat romantic vision of the saints portraying them as exempt from human weaknesses and moral failures. Nothing could be further from the truth! Saints are born sinners. However, a common characteristic of the saint is that upon falling, sinner that they are, they resiliently bounce back! They return to the Lord through Confession with good will and firm purpose of amendment. Ven. Bruno Lanteri, Founder of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary, taught NUNC CAEPI— meaning—if we fall, we must rise immediately and trust all the more in the grace and mercy of the loving Heart of Jesus! It is no surprise that in the Diary of Saint Faustina, Jesus reminds us that the greatest sinner can become the greatest saint if he TRUSTS in the Mercy of Jesus! Ven. Fulton J. Sheen reminds us that the first canonized saint was a murderer, insurrectionist and thief who happened to be on the cross next to Jesus on Calvary. As Sheen points out: “And he died a thief because he stole heaven!” Read and meditate on the Parable of the Prodigal Son that can also be called the Parable of the Merciful Father.” (Lk. 15:11-32)

8. FERVENT LOVE FOR THE SOURCE OF ALL HOLINESS: THE HOLY EUCHARIST. The ultimate source of grace, purity, strength and holiness is Jesus Himself. The most efficacious means to unite ourselves with Jesus in His Mystical Body is through the Sacraments. The greatest of all of the Sacraments is the Most Holy Eucharist for the simple but profound reason that the Eucharist actually is Jesus—His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. Jesus is the Holy of Holies; He is God, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. Though it may seem banal, or a cliché, or even trivial, there is a real truth behind this one liner: “You become what you eat!” Bad eating habits can produce health problems; good eating habits can contribute to health and longevity. In a parallel but real sense when we nourish our souls with the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus, with faith, devotion, fervor and love, then we start to think like Jesus, feel like Jesus, act like Jesus, become like Jesus until we can say with Saint Paul:  “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” (Gal. 2:20)

9. OPEN AND DOCILE TO THE HOLY SPIRIT. Fr. Jacques Philippe wrote a masterpiece on this topic with the title In the School of the Holy Spirit. In this short but inspiring book, Fr. Jacques constantly reminds his readers that holiness essentially depends on one basic attitude, action, and plan of life: being docile to the Holy Spirit and His heavenly inspirations. The Consoler, Counsellor, Interior Master, Paraclete, Sweet Guest of the Soul, the Holy Spirit speaks gently but insistently to pure, humble, and docile souls guiding them in the proper course of action that leads to holiness of life, that leads them to become the saints that we are all called and destined to become. Saint Paul reminds us: “We do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Holy Spirit intercedes for us with ineffable groans so that we can call out Abba, Father.” (Rom. 8:28) It is precisely for this reason that Pope Saint John XXIII stated: “The saints are the masterpieces of the Holy Spirit.” Saint Mother Teresa said: “Holiness is not the privilege of the few but the duty of all.”

10. MARY AND THE SAINTS. Our Lady, Mary most holy, is the Queen of Virgins, the Queen of Confessors, the Queen of Martyrs, the Queen and beauty of Carmel, the Queen of the most Holy Rosary, and finally Mary is the Queen of all the Angels and Saints. After he died, Saint Dominic Savio appeared bathed in heavenly glory to Saint John Bosco and told the holy priest what gave him the greatest joy in his short life on earth (14 years 11 months). It was precisely this: his great love and confidence in the Blessed Virgin Mary. Dominic ended this encounter with John Bosco by exhorting him to spread devotion to Mary to the greatest extent possible. Mary inspires the saints to pray fervently. Mary inspires the saints to return to God after they sin. Mary encourages the saints to love Jesus with their whole being. Mary’s presence helps the saints to avoid moral dangers. Mary’s maternal and loving presence helps the saints to move from desolation to consolation. For that reason, the saints cry out to Mary in these words: “Hail Holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope.”

Our final prayer and hope is that all of our readers will become saints and great saints. Our hope and prayer is that all of you will one day be a very precious, resplendent, and glorious jewel in the crown of Mary and praise and contemplate the Blessed Trinity in heaven for all eternity. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us so that we can attain the grace to truly become the saint that God has destined us to become for all eternity.