Second Sunday of Easter 
Sunday of Divine Mercy

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

SUNDAY, April 24th   Jn. 20: 19-31  DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY  “You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me, says the Lord; blessed are they who have not seen me, but still believe!”

LEARN THE TEN BEATITUDES OF GOD’S MERCY by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

Blessed are those who learn and put into practice these Ten Beatitudes—blessings—that flow from living out the greatest virtue in the Sacred Heart of Jesus—His Infinite Mercy! Saint Pope John Paul II was one of the greatest promoters of the message of Divine Mercy with Saint Faustina Kowalska. How providential that this great and saintly pontiff, John Paul II actually died on April 2, 2005 which was the Vigil of Divine Mercy and received Holy Communion shortly before he passed from this life to eternal life. May we all learn these ten Beatitudes of Divine Mercy and may they be a compass to orient and guide our entire lives to our eternal reward—Heaven!

1. LEARN SOME KEY BIBLICAL PASSAGES ON GOD’S MERCY: HERE ARE A FEW. Jesus from the cross: “Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing.” In the Lord’s Prayer, the Our Father: “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” A command from the Heart of Jesus:  “Be merciful as your Heavenly Father is merciful.” Jesus to Peter: “Peter, forgive not seven times, but seventy times seven times.” When you are about to present your gift (with a heart tainted with resentment): “Leave your gift at the altar and be reconciled; then return to offer your gift.” To the repentant thief on the cross: “Amen I say to you: today you will be with me in Paradise.” Of course, the Parable par excellence expressing God’s merciful love is that of The Prodigal Son, or if you like, The Parable of the Merciful Father. (Lk 15:11-31) Learn by heart these key passages and try to live them out!

2. DIARY OF DIVINE MERCY IN MY SOUL. Read and meditate upon the Diary: Divine Mercy in My Soul of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska. Most certainly, this spiritual masterpiece is one of the greatest works ever composed on the topic of God’s mercy. Jesus actually called this humble Polish nun (1905-1938) The Secretary of Divine Mercy. This literary masterpiece is divided into six books, with 1828 entries. Each entry is a spiritual golden nugget that you can meditate upon and derive fathomless treasures!  You might even call it that pearl of infinite price! Try reading one number per day!

3. HONOR THE IMAGE OF DIVINE MERCY. Jesus promises most signal graces for those who honor this image. It is an image of the Risen Lord Jesus with His wounds. He is dressed in a white tunic, symbolic of purity. His Head is surrounded by a halo highlighting His holiness. From His Heart emanates two rays: one white and one red.  The white symbolizes the two Sacraments of Baptism and Confession; the red stands for the Blood of our salvation, perpetuated through the Eucharist. His wounds can clearly be seen—symbols of His great love for us. Jesus said to Faustina that love is measured by willingness to suffer for the one you love. One foot is in front of the other, as if Jesus is walking towards you. He desires to come to you, to engulf you in His Infinite Mercy. Finally, at the bottom of the painting are the words: JESUS, I TRUST IN YOU! Honor this image and if possible have it enthroned in your home. If done, Jesus promises very special blessings upon you, as well as those who enter your home.

4. CHAPLET OF DIVINE MERCY. Get in the habit of praying that beautiful prayer, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. Jesus encouraged Saint Faustina to pray it as often as possible! Indeed, it is a short prayer that can be recited in less than ten minutes. It is easy to memorize; even little children can pray it and should pray it. It is a Eucharistic prayer: “I offer you the Body, Blood Soul and Divinity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” It is a prayer of reparation: “In reparation for our sins and those of the whole world.”  Therefore, find some time to pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy every day, and teach and invite others to do the same!

5. MERCY HOUR. Every day remember the Mercy Hour! This is 3:00 p.m. The reason? This was the hour that Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ died on the cross for the salvation of the whole world and that means for you and for me. Jesus asked Saint Faustina to make the Way of the Cross at this hour, or at least to visit the Blessed Sacrament where the Lord Jesus is anxiously waiting for visitors as company for Him.  Of course many of us who do not live in close proximity to a Chapel or Church and the Blessed Sacrament cannot do either of the above. For that reason, Jesus said that at 3:00 p.m., the Mercy Hour, at least briefly reflect upon His agony, Passion and death on the cross. Jesus promises most special graces to those who unite themselves with His bitter Passion at the Mercy Hour. For my part, I beg the Lord, most humbly and fervently, that all those who are dying then, and the rest of that day, will be converted and saved. You might do the same!

6. DYING AND MERCY. The moment we die is the most important moment in our lives. It will determine our eternal destiny, either salvation or damnation, either heaven or hell! For that reason, we should constantly be preparing for this all-important moment in our lives. But above and beyond our own mortality, death, and ensuing judgment, we should do all within our power to help other souls get to heaven. The Letter of Saint James points out that if we bring a wandering soul back to God, then we save our own and expiate a multitude of sins. (James 5:20) How then can we help the dying? We should pray fervently and frequently for the dying. However, if we have the opportunity to be at the bedside of some person—relative, friend, or stranger, or even an enemy—we should pray for their conversion and salvation, that they would die in the state of sanctifying grace. Especially the most powerful prayer of The Chaplet of Divine Mercy. For another of the extraordinary promises of Jesus is that He promises if anyone is praying the Chaplet for the dying, then the person who is dying will be saved for all eternity! Despite the state of that person’s soul, the Divine Mercy flowing from the Wounds of Jesus, His Passion, suffering and death moves the Heart of the Eternal Father to open up His loving Heart and arms in mercy, even to the most hardened sinner. Therefore, let us do all we can to open up the gates of heaven for a multitude of sinners!

7. NOVENA OF DIVINE MERCY.  Pray the Novena of Divine Mercy. It starts on Good Friday and terminates, nine days later, on the Solemnity of Divine Mercy. It can be prayed in Church, in your family, with others or in private, but you should try to pray it. The intentions are a model for prayer of intercession.  Jesus asks us to bring to Him a wide variety of individuals and intentions. They are the following: 1)Today bring to Me all mankind, especially all sinners, and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy; 2) Today bring to Me the souls of priests and religious, and immerse them in My unfathomable mercy; 3)Today bring to Me all devout and faithful souls, and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy; 4) Today bring to Me those who do not believe in God and those who do not yet know Me; 5) Today bring to Me the souls of those who have separated themselves from the Church; 6) Today bring to Me the meek and humble souls of little children, and immerse them in My mercy; 7) Today bring to Me the souls who especially venerate and glorify My Mercy and immerse them in My mercy; 8) Today bring to Me the souls who are detained in purgatory and immerse them in the abyss of My Mercy; 9) Today bring to Me souls who have become lukewarm, and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy.

8. DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY. Celebrate the Liturgical Solemnity of Divine Mercy Sunday with immense joy and active participation. This is the Sunday that follows Easter Sunday, the apex, zenith, and the crowning moment of Easter. Historically, this Solemnity was declared in the Pontificate of Saint Pope John Paul II entering into the new Millennium, the year 2000 on April 30^th, on the Day of Mercy Sunday. On the same occasion, this great Pope canonized the first saint in the new millennium. Can you guess who that saint might have been? You are right! Saint Faustina Kowalska, the Secretary of Divine Mercy.  After instituting this great Solemnity of Divine Mercy and canonizing Saint Faustina, Pope John Paul II commented that it was the happiest day of his life; he had carried out one of his most important missions—to preach far and wide the enormous importance of trusting totally in Divine Mercy!

9. ACCEPT THE GREAT GIFT OF DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY. Among the many promises and gifts of Divine Mercy is that related to the Feast of Divine Mercy. Jesus promised that those who make a good Sacramental Confession (anytime in Lent, all the way up to Mercy Sunday), and attend Holy Mass on Mercy Sunday and receive Holy Communion with fervor and love, then all of their sins are forgiven and all temporal punishment due to their sins is totally expiated.  In concrete, that means that your soul becomes white as the snow, as it was on the day of your Baptism. If you were to die at that moment, your soul would skyrocket through the clouds into heaven for all eternity. Everybody should take advantage of this extraordinary gift that Jesus through His Church, His Mystical Body offers us freely!

10. OUR LADY OF MERCY AND PURITY OF HEART. Finally, our essay would be incomplete on the Ten Beatitudes of God’s Mercy if we did not welcome Our Lady of Mercy into this wonderful topic. One of the Beatitudes most poignant to Our Lady of mercy and purity is the following: Blessed are the pure of heart, they will see God. (Mt 5:8) On one occasion, as related in the Diary, Jesus appeared to Saint Faustina, dazzling in beauty!  He drew close to Faustina and fastened around her waist a golden sash. With this gesture Saint Faustina was granted an extraordinary grace and gift:  the gift of perfect chastity in body, mind, heart and soul! Faustina commented that she had been begging the Blessed Virgin Mary for that most treasured and cherished grace for a long time and finally it was granted. In a world in which we are bombarded with so many images, ideas, shows, and depictions against the holy virtue of purity, let us turn to Our Lady of Mercy and find refuge in her most tender and pure heart, so that we also will be able to live out that very challenging but necessary Beatitude:  Blessed are the pure of heart, for they will see God. (Mt. 5:8)

In conclusion, we hope and pray that you will learn these Ten Beatitudes of God’s Mercy. We hope that you will strive to live them out to the full. We hope and pray that one day you will be united with God forever in heaven to sing His praises with the angels and saints and Mary, the Queen of angels and saints, and the Queen of Mercy!

Saturday in the Octave of Easter

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

SATURDAY, April 23rd   Mk. 16: 9-15   Alleluia Verse: “This is the day the Lord has made, let us be glad and rejoice in it. Alleluia, alleluia.”

On the Eve of Divine Mercy Sunday, let us honor Mary as our Mother of Mercy!!!

MARY’S TWO GREATEST DESIRES: THE HONOR AND GLORY OF GOD AND THE SALVATION OF IMMORTAL SOULS. By Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

If we sincerely love Jesus and Mary His Mother, then shouldn’t we ask what their two greatest desires are? The response is this. The first is to honor and glorify God in this life and in the next. The second is that which naturally flows from honoring and glorifying God, and that is the sanctification and salvation of immortal souls for all eternity!

DANTE: THE DEVIL AND THE HOLY NAME OF MARY. 

In the classic written by Dante, The Divine Comedy, in the section on Hell, Jesus is informed by the devil that a certain soul is his, a soul that is destined for eternal damnation in hell. Jesus responds by denying the devil’s assertion. The devil insists saying this soul, due to his many serious sins, is his property. Jesus then says with utter clarity and simplicity: that soul is not yours because he invoked the Holy Name of my Mother Mary! This literary masterpiece does not deny the serious quality of sin, especially mortal sin. However, it does highlight a hallmark and indispensable help on the Highway to salvation: the presence of Mary, the power of Mary, the importance of invoking the Holy Name of Mary!

Our Lady has two constant and ardent desires: first, to praise and glorify God; second, the perseverance, sanctification, and salvation of immortal souls. As Saint Thomas Aquinas reminds us, one soul is worth more than the whole created universe! Saint Ignatius challenged Francis Xavier to conversion with that one immortal Biblical phrase: “What will it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his immortal soul? What can a man exchange for his soul?” (Mt. 16:26) 

OUR LADY AND THE TWO KEYS TO SALVATION. 

In both Lourdes (1858) and Fatima (1917), Our Lady expressed the clear call to conversion from sin and to pray for the conversion of poor sinners. Our Lady’s message could be summed up in three words: SIN, PRAYER, AND SACRIFICE! Let us explain these words!

1. SIN 

Our Lady pointed out very clearly, especially in Fatima, the evil of sin. She prophesied that as a result of sin, wars had broken out and if people kept sinning, a worse war would explode. Twenty-two years after Fatima (1917) the worst war in the history of the world crashed into human history—World War II, killing millions upon millions – estimated at 50 to 58 million. Our Lady also pointed out that souls are lost to the eternal fires of hell due especially to the sins against the very demanding virtue of purity. The words of Jesus resound clear and with conviction: “Blessed are the pure of heart, for they will see God.” (Mt. 5:8)

Even the Immaculate Heart of Mary surrounded with sharp and penetrating thorns manifests sin in a very personal way—sin pierces the Immaculate Heart of our Heavenly Mother. Our Lady challenges each of us to look into our life, examine our conscience, and make a firm purpose of amendment once and for all to strive with all the energy in our will and in our life to renounce sin in all shapes, colors, sizes, and forms! And that includes avoiding near occasions of sin—those persons, places, things, circumstances or times of the day that draw us into sin!

2. PRAYER 

In all six of Our Lady’s appearances to the three children of Fatima, she exhorts them to pray the Rosary daily! Truly the Rosary is our Ladder to Heaven! The Rosary is biblical, following the lives of Jesus and Mary in Sacred Scripture. Pope Saint John Paul II in his Apostolic Letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae on the Rosary gives us this exhortation: to contemplate the face of Christ in union with, and at the school of, his Most Holy Mother, through the recitation of the Rosary. He says we are remembering Christ with Mary, we are learning Christ from Mary, we are being conformed to Christ with Mary, we are praying to Christ with Mary, and we proclaiming Christ with Mary!

1) JOYFUL MYSTERIES

These mysteries introduce the most important moment in all human history—the Annunciation, the announcement of the Angel Gabriel to Mary that she has been chosen to be the Mother of God, and upon Mary’s consent, her Yes, we have the Incarnation—the Son of God made flesh in the Immaculate womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary! “Mary leads us to discover the secret of Christian joy, reminding us that Christianity is, first and foremost, evangelion—“good news”, which has as its heart and its whole content the person of Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, the one Saviour of the world.” (Pope Saint John Paul II—Rosarium Virginis Maria)

2) LUMINOUS MYSTERIES

These Mysteries of Light introduced by Pope Saint John Paul II in 2002, cover the Public life of Christ in which He proclaims the Gospel of the Kingdom. In the second mystery, the Wedding Feast at Cana, we encounter Jesus’ first public miracle through the powerful intervention of Mary, the first among believers, and because of this, “the disciples believed in Him.” (Jn. 2:11) These mysteries culminate in the sublime mystery of the institution of the Most Holy Eucharist, and the Holy Priesthood— “Do this in remembrance of me” (Lk. 22:19), necessary to perpetuate Christ’s august and sublime Gift of Self in the Eucharist!

3) Sorrowful Mysteries

These are the Mysteries in which we walk the Way of the Cross with our Sorrowful Mother Mary. “The sorrowful mysteries help the believer to relive the death of Jesus, to stand at the foot of the Cross beside Mary, to enter with her into the depths of God’s love for man and to experience all its life-giving power.” (Pope Saint John Paul II – Rosarium Virginis Maria)

4) GLORIOUS MYSTERIES

The Mysteries that begin with the Resurrection of Jesus, and end with the Assumption of Mary into Heaven and Coronation of Mary, Queen of the Angels and Saints! With Christ’s Resurrection comes the promise of the resurrection of the faithful. Therefore, the grace of all graces is to die in the state of grace! In praying the Rosary, we beg Mother Mary’s intercession to obtain this grace of all graces. Hail Holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope. 

4. SACRIFICE

In both Lourdes (1858) and Fatima (1917) the Blessed Mother, concerned about the conversion and salvation of sinners, asked for frequent and fervent prayers to be offered. However, in addition to prayers, she noted that sacrifice was also required if souls were to be saved! Jesus reiterates the same message: “Unless a man deny himself and take up his cross and follow me, he cannot be my disciple.” (Lk. 14:26)

5. WAYS TO PLEASE MARY AND JESUS BY SACRIFICE 

If this is the case, that Jesus and Mary want us to offer sacrifices for the salvation of souls, then what can we do? Lucia de Los Santos once asked Our Lady of Fatima what she, Francisco, and Jacinta should do with respect to sacrifices. Our Lady responded by telling her to offer up all to God as a sacrifice. As a guide or help, we would like to suggest ten distinct areas that you can offer to Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary as forms of sacrifice, and as such collaborate with them in the salvation of many souls. Indeed, the harvest is rich, but the laborers are few. May you be among the harvesters with Jesus and Mary, in the harvest of immortal souls for all eternity!

1. MORNING OFFERING.  Start off every day by offering all you are, all you have, and all you plan to do that day to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus for the salvation of souls.

2. WEATHER CONDITIONS.  Instead of complaining about the heat, the cold, the rain, the wind simply accept it and thank God you are alive! If it causes you discomfort, offer it for the salvation of souls.

3. HEADACHE.  You experience a headache, unite it with the Crown Thorned Head of Jesus for those many sinners whose minds are filled with sin—in their memories, thoughts, and imagination! May their minds be purified by your willingness to accept your headache!

4. TRAFFIC JAM.  Instead of giving in to both anger and impatience, say an extra Rosary for the conversion and salvation of sinners.

5. BEING IGNORED.  If at home or at work you are forgotten, not taken into account, snubbed or simply ignored, offer it in reparation for the many who treat Jesus the same way by ignoring Him or denying Him.

6. DRYNESS IN PRAYER.  You pray but there are no strong feelings or emotions, and this may go on for some time. Take advantage of this spiritual desert by offering it for the conversion of sinners who are far from God, living in a moral wasteland.

7. HUMILIATIONS.  They can come in many shapes, forms, and sizes, and can be very painful! Accept them for the sake of the salvation of so many poor sinners who are on the very precipice of the eternal loss of their souls!

8. PLANS UPSET.  Inevitably life teaches us that our plans can easily be upset and overturned. Accept this and the suffering it entails, once again so as to collaborate with Jesus and Mary in the conversion and salvation of many immortal souls.

9. PAINFUL WAITING.  You have an appointment and the person arrives late. In the interim, offer your suffering by praying an extra Rosary or Chaplet of Divine Mercy. Even though waiting can be very painful, it too can be the means of the conversion and sanctification of lost sinners. God is willing to take whatever we are willing to offer Him with a sincere, pure, and generous heart to save souls!

10. SLIP, TRIP, FALL AND BRUISE.  It has happened to all of us. We forget to watch our step, we stumble, trip, fall and end up bruising ourselves, if not worse. Instead of blurting out some vulgar word, offer it for the many souls who have slipped morally, who are bruised spiritually, who have fallen into the deep mud of mortal sin and possibly are in danger of never getting out of their sinful condition. Perhaps your offering will help them to rise up and return to the loving embrace of the Merciful Father!

To conclude, Our Lady has an ardent longing for two things. For God to be honored, praised and glorified in this life and forever in heaven. To love what God loves, the conversion of sinners and the salvation of an abundant harvest of souls. Let us work generously with Jesus and Mary!

Friday in the Octave of Easter

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

FRIDAY, April 22nd    Jn. 21:1-14   Alleluia Verse: “This is the day the Lord has made, let us be glad and rejoice in it. Alleluia, Alleluia”

WE ARE PEOPLE OF JOY AND HOPE by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

In his visit to the poorer section of New York City—Harlem—Pope Saint John Paul II preached these encouraging words: “We are an Easter people!” By these words preached in a very deprived section of New York, the holy Pontiff was accentuating the fact that Jesus Christ truly rose from the dead and opened the gates of Heaven for all of us. This indeed is a message of great hope for all who desire to open their hearts to the Risen Lord Jesus.  

In many hearts, even those of Catholics, the virtue of hope seems to be smoldering, vacillating, tottering, even extinguished. However, the Risen Lord Jesus is so kind, compassionate, loving, merciful and patient that He will most willingly infuse within us a renewed joy and hope if we open our hearts to His knocking.

Maybe you have a heart assaulted by doubts, anxieties, fears, insecurities and confusion. If such is the case, the Word of God is addressed to you right now: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. Whoever opens the door, I will enter and dine with them, and they with me.” (Rev 3:19)

May we all rejoice and be glad, and be filled with renewed hope. Hope is not wishful, whimsical and sentimental feelings, as in the expression: “Well, I hope so!!!” Quite the contrary.

What is hope then? Hope is one of the three theological virtues: faith, hope, and charity. These three theological virtues were instilled in our soul when we were baptized. Of course, like seeds planted in the ground, these virtues must be cultivated. As the young express it today: “If you don’t use it, you lose it.” So, let us use and cultivate hope so that we do not lose it.

Perhaps the best way to understand the theological virtue of hope is summarized in the spiritual masterpiece with Saint Faustina as the Secretary of Jesus, Diary: Divine Mercy in My Soul. It can be boiled down to five simple words: JESUS, I TRUST IN YOU!!! These words, written at the bottom of the image of Divine Mercy, summarize the essence of our message on the virtue of hope. We must place a total, constant, unreserved, and solid TRUST in Jesus in all times, places, and circumstances. We must abandon our lives to the loving care of Jesus and trust that He loves us and will always act in a way that is in our best interest, even though at times we do not understand the ways of Divine Providence. As the Psalmist points out, His ways are not our ways, and as high as the heavens are above the earth, so are God’s ways above our ways. (cf Is. 55:9)

We live in time, but God lives in eternity. Past, present and future all converge with God. He sees the whole picture and we see only a very limited part of the whole scenario.

What then are some concrete ways that we can foster, bolster, and fortify the virtue of Hope in our lives so that we can fill others with joy and hope? We will offer a few simple power points; let us grab on to them and be buoyed up by the solid anchor of hope.

1. GOD’S LOVE FOR ME.  First and foremost, we must be firmly convicted and convinced that our God is not a tyrant, dictator, or mean-spirited boss who seeks to punish us. Quite the contrary, our God is a loving Father who loves each and every one us with an eternal love, a love that is immutable—never subject to change. Moreover, the more weak, vulnerable, and miserable we find ourselves, the more God embraces us with His love! This we see exemplified in the Parable of the Prodigal Son, which can rightly be termed, “The Parable of the Merciful Father.” (Lk 15:11-15) Re-read this Bible story paying particular attention to the actions of the father!

2. HE SENT HIS SON TO SAVE ME.  God the Father manifested His Infinite Love for us in sending His only Son to save us in the Person of Jesus Christ in His Incarnation. Jesus was conceived in the womb of the Virgin Mary through the working of the Holy Spirit, was born, lived, and was crucified suffering excruciating pains shedding His Precious Blood, died and rose from the dead—all of this for love of each and every one of us. How precious you are in the eyes of God.

3. JESUS LEFT ME THE CHURCH: THE MYSTICAL BODY OF CHRIST.  Another reason to rejoice and hope is that even though after Jesus’ death and Resurrection, He ascended into Heaven, He did not leave us orphans. Rather, Jesus left His presence among us in the Church, which is His Mystical Body.

4. JESUS PRESENT IN THE MOST HOLY EUCHARIST.  The very Heart and center of the Church is Jesus truly present in His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and most specifically in the Holy Eucharist. Those who believe and are in the state of grace are invited to receive Jesus into the very depths of their soul and experience life and life in abundance!

5. FRIENDSHIP WITH JESUS.  At the Last Supper Jesus called His Apostles, Friends. He also wants us to be His Intimate Friends. Why not starting today, strive to cultivate a deep, dynamic and strong bond of friendship with Jesus. Talk to Him now about all that concerns you! He is our FAITHFUL FRIEND, the Friend who will never fail us! (EL AMIGO QUE NUNCA FALLA!!!)

6. HEAVEN AWAITS US.  A reality too often neglected in our thoughts is the reality of Heaven. We often pray the Our Father, starting with these words: “Our Father, who art in Heaven…” But all too often we forget to meditate upon the reality of Heaven. Heaven indeed exists. Jesus has prepared a place for us in Heaven. This thought should inundate us with joy and hope, and spur us on to attain this cherished prize.

7. THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD, THESE IS NOTHING I SHALL WANT. (Psalm 23) At any time and place we can close our eyes and imagine that we are walking in the quiet, peaceful, and refreshing meadows where Jesus, the Good Shepherd wants to walk with us, talk to us, listen to us, encourage us, support us and love us. Why not read this Psalm slowly and carefully today. Then take a long, peaceful walk with Jesus, the Good Shepherd of your soul. He is patiently waiting for you.

8. DIARY OF DIVINE MERCY IN MY SOUL.  One of the spiritual classics that has left an indelible impression on my life in the past few years is DIARY: DIVINE MERCY IN MY SOUL. Jesus chose the humble and holy nun, Saint Faustina Kowalska, known as The Secretary of Divine Mercy, to communicate to the world one of the most important and urgent messages of all times: God is rich in mercy, God loves us, God is ready to forgive us and embrace us in His loving arms. I cannot encourage with greater emphasis the purchasing, daily reading and meditating on this spiritual masterpiece, even one number per day! One of the most exquisite fruits of the constant, assiduous and daily reading of the Diary will be a renewed hope welling-up in your heart, as well as an expansive and over-flowing joy.

9. SHARE YOUR JOY AND HOPE WITH OTHERS.  If we indeed follow these suggestions, the net-result will be an increase of joy and hope. However, it must be understood, this joy and hope cannot be kept to ourselves, it must be shared with others. By sharing our joy and hope with others, they will be enlightened and pulled out of the pit of discouragement, and at the same time our own joy and hope will be fortified and grow all the more! “Let your light shine before men so that you will give glory to your Heavenly Father.” (Mt 5:16)

10. MARY: OUR LIFE, OUR SWEETNESS AND OUR HOPE.  The beautiful prayer that we say with so much joy at the end of the Holy Rosary, the Hail Holy Queen, starts with these words: “Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope….” These are words of great encouragement. Mary is indeed a well-spring and fountain of abundant hope. We invite all to read and meditate upon the Marian classic and masterpiece, “The Glories of Mary”, by St. Alphonsus Liguori. In fact, this spiritual gem is a commentary on the prayer, Hail Holy Queen. By reading, meditating and assimilating these truths, undoubtedly, we will be filled with hope and joy and become an overflowing well-spring of hope and joy to others. Again, the book is broken into sections of a few pages. Resolve to read at least one section per day. Then your day will be buoyed up by Jesus’ Divine Mercy and the love of Mary, our Mother of Mercy!!!

My friends we are all Easter-people! We are indeed men and women imbued with the virtue of hope. May Our Lady, who is truly our life, our sweetness, and our hope, inspire us to trust fully in God’s love for us, her maternal care and love for us, and Jesus’ deep, abiding friendship with us. Then we will truly be a bright light shining in the darkness, and a shining star pointing to our heavenly reward!

Thursday in the Octave of Easter

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

THURSDAY, April 21st    Lk. 24: 35-48   Jesus said: “Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are the witnesses of these things.”

When the Heart of Jesus speaks to the heart of an anonymous a priest… a modern story of the priesthood and the Eucharist. Let us honor our priests, thank our priests, and most important of all, pray for our priests!

IN SINU JESUS: WHEN HEART SPEAKS TO HEART! Reflection by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

(Journal of a priest at prayer, a Benedictine monk)

Writing as a priest for more than 33 years, and being also a Religious Order priest consecrated and given to Jesus through the Blessed Virgin Mary, I honestly believe that if priests can find time to read, meditate and pray over the book In Sinu Jesu their lives will be transformed.

In this brief article we will highlight the essential points and messages in this text with the purpose of encouraging priests—myself included—to fall in love with their priesthood by falling in love with our Model, Friend, and Guide, Jesus the High Priest and Savior of the world.

Incidentally, this book can of course be read and prayed over by lay-people, single or married, any person of good-will. The net results will be a greater love and understanding of the Catholic Church and the essential role that priests play in the building up of the Mystical Body of Christ, which is the Church, the Universal Sacrament of salvation.

To facilitate the reading of this article, I will highlight ten of the most salient messages contained in this modern spiritual-gem. May you treasure them and find a place for them in the depths of your heart.

1. FRIENDSHIP WITH JESUS. 

At the Last Supper, which was the first Mass on Holy Thursday in the Cenacle or the Upper Room, Jesus left us His Last Supper Discourse. (Jn:13-17) Among the sublime words of truth that issued from the Sacred Heart of Jesus were these simple words: “I call you FRIENDS.” A priest must be firmly convinced of Jesus’ ardent desire to enter into a friendship with him that is dynamic and strong—that is to say, that will grow stronger as the days, weeks and years transpire. The priest is never alone because Jesus is at his side as his Best Friend. In Spanish, “El Amigo que nunca fall…”—The Friend that never fails!

2. FREQUENT VISITS AND CONVERSATIONS.  

A true friendship cannot subsist if there is little to no contact between the friends. Therefore, the priest should have an earnest yearning and longing to spend time, quality time as well as length of time, with Jesus. In the words of the Psalmist: ‘As the deer yearns for the running streams so my soul yearns for you, O Lord, my God.” (Psalm 42:1)

3. PRIVILEGED PLACE OF ENCOUNTER: THE BLESSED SACRAMENT.

True friends seek out propitious places for encounter. In this encounter between the priest and his Friend Jesus, the best place is in Church in front of the Blessed Sacrament, if exposed so much the better. As the text repeats time and time again, the priest will find consolation, light, peace and strength contemplating the Eucharistic Face of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.  Indeed, prayer is a Face to Face and Heart to Heart encounter and dialogue with Jesus.

4. ADORATION. 

Jesus so ardently yearns for priests who will come to adore Him. Friendship with Jesus must be ardent, frequent and dynamic. However, we should never be oblivious to the fact that Jesus also is God, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. As such He merits sublime praise, glory and adoration. Two very appropriate short Eucharistic prayers are: “O Sacrament most holy, O Sacrament divine, all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine.” And, “O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.”

5. THANK HIM.  

Given that Jesus has given us so much, all that we have and all that we are, it necessarily flows, an attitude of gratitude, the urgent need to thank the Lord Jesus. Everything, except the sins that we willfully have chosen, are gratuitous gifts that Jesus has given to us. In the words of the Greek poet by Saint Paul in the Acts of the Apostles, “In Him we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28) By the way, the word Eucharist actually means thanksgiving. A grateful heart overflowing with noble sentiments of thanksgiving is very pleasing to God and is preparing the terrain for future abundant blessings.

6. REPARATION. 

Unfortunately, within the Church, and sad to say even within the priesthood, there exists coldness, apathy, indifference, and at times lukewarmness.  Jesus came to cast fire on the earth, the fire of His love for the salvation of immortal souls. However, all too many hearts are both cold and indifferent. Many years ago, when the Sacred Heart appeared to Saint Margaret Mary Aloqoque in Paray le Monial convent in France, Jesus complained, displaying His Sacred Heart from which flared out fire: “Behold the Heart that has loved so much and receives only ingratitude and indifference in return. Console my Heart.” A true priest friend of Jesus will be drawn magnetically to the Tabernacle, to the Eucharistic Lord to offer prayers of sorrow, contrition, and reparation for such widespread coldness and indifference, sometimes even among the ranks of the clergy!

7. CAST YOUR CARES UPON THE LORD, FOR HE CARES FOR YOU. 

These words are taken from one of the Letters of the Apostle Saint Peter. We all have problems and some of us many, and at times very heavy ones. An essential part of true Friendship with Jesus is the honest and humble recognition that we have problems that weigh down upon us. Jesus longs to hear us tell Him about these problems and He desires to help us with these problems. If kept to ourselves, these problems result in depression and deep sadness. May we take these words of Jesus to heart: “Come to me all of you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Mt. 11: 28-30) A problem shared is a problem halved, or half the weight.

8. TEMPTATIONS AND MORAL FAILURES—SINS!  

According to Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, the most important title that can be given to Jesus is that of Savior. In other words, the primary reason for the Incarnation and the Paschal Mystery—the Passion, death and Resurrection of Jesus—was to save us from our sins and eternal death.  For priests to be truly good confessors to their penitents, they must first be good penitents and experience the Infinite Mercy of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In Sinu Jesu invites the priest to strive to go to Confession on a weekly basis with another priest so as to cultivate delicacy of conscience and purity of heart! St. Paul’s words have immense encouragement: “Where sin abounds the grace of God abounds all the more.” (Romans 5:20)

9. LOVE FOR THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS. 

Of course the highest form of prayer that a priest can offer is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. In this most sublime and august Sacrament, the priest unites himself most intimately with the Lord Jesus Christ in the Paschal Mystery, in Jesus’ Passion, death and Resurrection. All the fruits of Calvary that first Good Friday become a reality in every Mass that is celebrated. Upon receiving Holy Communion, the priest receives the total Jesus—His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. And in all truth, the priest receives a Spiritual-Heart transplant in every Mass and Holy Communion. How great is our God and how loving He is to His priests, as well as to all His children through the priest.

10. MARY THE LOVING MOTHER OF PRIESTS. 

In Sinu Jesu is replete and abundant with references to the relationship between the priest and the Blessed Virgin Mary. The priest must get to know Mary, talk to Mary, confide in Mary, seek consolation and comfort in the Immaculate Heart of Mary, confide and entrust his life to Mary, consecrate His life and priesthood to Mary. and love Mary as his most tender and loving Mother, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. (The Hail Holy Queen). For this reason, In Sinu Jesu, The Lord Jesus wants all priests to strive to imitate the beloved Apostle and Disciple Saint John, depicted on the front cover of the book itself.  Indeed, it was to Saint John that Jesus entrusted His Mother Mary as He hung on the cross: “When Jesus saw His Mother there whom He loved, he said to His Mother, ‘Woman, Behold your son. Then He said to the disciple, Behold your Mother’. And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.” (Jn. 19:26-27) Every priest must, in imitation of Saint John, have a filial and tender love for Mary, the Mother of all priests. In the midst of the sorrows, trials, sufferings and dark clouds in the life of the priest, Mary is the Morning Star, the Star of the Sea, the Mystical Rose, the Glimmer of Hope, the True Gate and Ladder to Heaven.

In conclusion, we invite all priests and lay-people to purchase, read, meditate and pray with the inspiring IN SINU JESU. We encourage all to pray for priests, support priests, encourage priests, offer sacrifices for priests and love your priests. The love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus passes through the heart of the priest!

Wednesday in the Octave of Easter

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

WEDNESDAY, April 20th    Lk. 24:13-35   “They urged him, ‘Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.’”

Has there ever been a time in your life when you felt lost, alone, abandoned… This story is your story and my story.

THE ROAD TO EMMAUS… by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

1. GRACE.  BEG FOR AN OVERFLOWING JOY!

Why? The Lord Jesus is truly risen from the dead, Alleluia!

2. LET’S TAKE A WALK WITH JESUS! 

Try now to imagine the scene. Let your contemplative mode kick into high-gear! It is afternoon on that first Easter day. Two disciples of Jesus are taking a walk away from Jerusalem. What is their mood, you might ask. Well, in Ignatian terms: DESOLATION! Confusion, depression, disorientation, questioning, doubts, darkness, hopelessness, dreams crashed!!!! There we have the state of affairs with these two forlorn individuals. One of the names of these individuals is Cleophas. The other has no name because that anonymous individual is YOU. Yes, you! You are called to be in this scene, on this journey.

3. WHERE ARE THEY GOING???

They are headed towards a small town or hamlet with the name EMMAUS. It is approximately eight miles distant from the city of Jerusalem. Apparently there is a small cottage that they are heading towards. They are leaving Jerusalem where Jesus was crucified just a couple days earlier. They are in much turmoil and confusion about this event! As they walk heading towards their destination, they talk. It is not a conversation that is easy; rather, they seem to be debating and even arguing as they try to make sense about what happened to Jesus that Friday! They cannot seem to make heads or tails about this event and about Jesus who they hoped would be their solution in life!

4. THE GOOD-NATURED STRANGER!

While in this state of desolation, as they walk, talk and argue, a stranger comes out of nowhere and walks with them. He engages them in conversation and asks them what they are talking about. He walks at their pace and is very interested in them—who they are, what they are saying, what they are feeling. They are surprised that he is the only one in Jerusalem who doesn’t know about these events, about what happened to Jesus of Nazareth! As they open up their hearts and express their grief and sorrow, the stranger simply listens. The two are impressed by this stranger! He walks with them, listens very attentively, seems to really know them, care for them, and love them, even though this man is a complete stranger! Have you ever met a stranger like this in your life?

5. THE STRANGER SPEAKS!

After listening to the interior plight of these two, it is the stranger’s turn! He opens his mouth and speaks about these happenings. He takes Scriptures that they have heard before and interprets them related to this “Jesus of Nazareth” and all the events that happened to him. They never heard anybody speak with such clarity before on the topic of Jesus, especially related to his Passion, death, and apparent Resurrection, for some actually claimed that he had come back to life! As this stranger talks, something is happening to the two disciples: their desolation is being transformed into consolation! It is as if a thick and dense cloud is being lifted from their minds and hearts, and they start to feel light and joyful! Life now has meaning again as their confusion dissipates and clarity enlightens their path. Why this change? For the simple reason that this good-natured and intelligent stranger has come to walk with them, listen to their grief, and talk to them in a kind, clear and meaningful way!

Have you ever met a stranger like this? What you like to meet a stranger like this? Would you like to ask this stranger about Jesus and then listen to his conversation and explanation of who Jesus is and what happened to him? This stranger loves you! He wants to walk with you and talk to you in your life right where you are at. He knows you, cares for you, and wants to listen to you always, in any place and at any time. You simply have to invite him and he will come! Surely now you know who this stranger is!

6 ARRIVAL AT EMMAUS AND THE STRANGER!

After this enlightening walk and conversation, the two disciples arrive at their destination, the town of Emmaus and their little house! However, their mood has been transformed; they have gone from desolation to consolation! The reason for this is as clear as the noon-day sun, the arrival of this stranger and their conversation with him—his walk and talk, his gentle demeanor, his ability to listen and respond with great intelligence and insight, his overflowing kindness. In a word, his understanding, compassion and charity have moved them to the very depths of their being! So profound is the transformation in both of them that they do not want to separate from this stranger who has already become their good friend! As they arrive at their destination, the stranger walks on, as if he has an appointment somewhere further down the road. Nonetheless, they will try; they invite him to come into their humble little abode and stay with them. They earnestly long for his fellowship and friendship!

7. STAY WITH US, BECAUSE THE NIGHT IS APPROACHING…

These are the words they address to the stranger! The stranger responds almost as if he were waiting for, better yet, longing for this invitation! He accepts immediately! There is a deep message at this point for you and me and the whole world: FREEDOM AND INVITATION! 

FREEDOM! Jesus, being the Son of God, has given us freedom to use and not to abuse. However, He will not force, coerce or violate our freedom; rather, He respects it! God wants to be loved, but love cannot be forced, it has to be given with total freedom. Adam and Eve abused their freedom, and so did the fallen angels, by sinning against God instead of loving God! We too are free! Free to receive and return God’s love, or to reject God’s love by living in a state of sin.

INVITATION! Like in Emmaus, Jesus wants to be invited into your home —in other words, Jesus is knocking at the door of your heart and waiting for a response, waiting for you to listen, to hear, and to open your heart and receive Him; better yet, to warmly welcome Him! The Book of Revelation insists upon this point: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. Whoever opens the door, I will enter and dine with him and he with Me.” (Rev. 3:20) Right now, Jesus is knocking at the door of your heart and He is waiting for your response. What will it be???

8. SITTING AT TABLE. 

Now they sit down at table. The stranger (who is Jesus, but they still do not recognize Him) carries out four very important gestures that He actually did just three days earlier. It centers around the one word BREAD! He takes bread, blesses it, breaks it and gives it! These four verbs: take, bless, break, and give are key words in history and will be until the end of the world! These are the same gestures that Jesus did on Holy Thursday at the Last Supper, which was the first Mass, in the Cenacle or Upper Room. That’s right! These gestures with bread occur at every Holy Mass that is offered! Classical Catholic commentaries agree that Jesus was celebrating another Mass for these forlorn disciples.

Indeed, how good God truly is! Once again it is time for us to renew our faith, our love, and our fervent devotion for the most Holy Eucharist! With Saint Thomas we can say: “My Lord and my God!” Or if you like: “O Sacrament most holy, O Sacrament divine, all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine!” Be present in awe and adoration at this point, this happening, this great mystery of God’s Presence among us! Emmanuel means “God with us”.

9. EYES OPENED TO SEE AND RECOGNIZE HIM!

Only now are the eyes of the disciples opened to recognize that this stranger is really not a stranger at all, but He is Jesus, their Lord, God, and Savior—THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE! How often, like these disciples, have we been blinded from seeing and recognizing Jesus who is present always, but very clearly in the “Real Presence”—meaning the Eucharist!

Dogmatic Constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium from Vatican Council II speaks about the various ways that God makes Himself present, especially in the context of the Liturgy, in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass! These are the specific ways. In the people united for prayer. “Where two or more are gathered in my Name, there I am in their midst.” (Mt. 18:20) In the Word of God. God is present in a very special way in the Gospel proclaimed. It is Jesus who is speaking to us through the Gospel, which means Good News! Jesus is present in the priest who works and officiates as Alter Christus—indeed, as another Christ! Still more, Jesus becomes truly and substantially present in the Consecration at Mass: “This is my Body… This is my Blood… Do this in memory of me.” Then the culminating moment happens when those who are well-disposed receive Jesus in Holy Communion and become thereby living and burning tabernacles of the Lord Most High! Afterwards, Jesus stays with us in the Tabernacle so that we can come to visit Him as His friends!

10. HE DISAPPEARS, BUT STILL REMAINS!!!

This seems to be paradoxical! How can Jesus leave and remain at the same time? A miracle indeed! In Jesus’ Glorified Body He disappears from their midst. Nonetheless, He stays with them in the Eucharistic species—in the consecrated Host. Jesus said: “Behold, I will be with you always even until the end of the world.” (Mt. 28:20)

The joy of these two disciples knows no limits; it is overflowing in torrents! You would think they would be tired after walking eight long miles along a dusty path! Quite the contrary! They are renewed and energized. In a certain sense, they are reborn!

They are completely convinced Jesus truly lives and they will give their lives totally to Him, making Him known throughout the whole world! And they will not wait! They hurry back to Jerusalem to share the Good News of having met the Lord Jesus. As they recount the whole incident, it is apparent something has occurred to them for their hearts are burning within them, like a blazing fire! All of this is related to Jesus’ Presence, His explaining the Word of God to them with great clarity, and finally His Breaking Bread for them.

Jesus wants to enter into dialogue with you too—this is your daily holy hour! So you can walk with Him, talk to Him, listen to Him and love Him throughout your daily life. Also, why not go where Jesus is present in the proclamation of the Word of God, and in the Breaking of Bread to receive Him willingly into the depths of your heart, so that like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, your heart will be set on fire. So you too can set the whole world on fire with love of the Lord Jesus Christ!

May this be our fervent prayer: “STAY WITH US LORD, because night is approaching.”

Copyright 2022 Oblates of the Virgin Mary / St. Peter Chanel Church, Hawaiian Gardens, CA