Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent

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

MONDAY, April 4th    Jn. 8:12-20   “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

In today’s Gospel, Jesus says “I am the light of the world.” In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says: “You are the light of the world. Your light must shine before others…that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” (Mt. 5:14,16) Today, let us contemplate with abundant thanksgiving the shining light whose “Yes” brought us the Christ Light.

Part 1: THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

Part 2: MARY, STAR OF THE SEA… by St. Bernard of Clairvaux

Part 3: A TRUE STORY… by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

PART 1: THE LIGHT THAT SHINES IN THE WORLD by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

Light – what a lovely thing light is. There is no shining light in all creation lovelier than the Blessed Virgin Mary! She alone is the Immaculate Conception, preserved from original sin at the moment of her conception in the womb of Saint Anne and preserved from the stain of sin her whole life! In Mary’s pure light, we see clearly the darkness in ourselves. Thus the poet Wordsworth called Mary “our tainted nature’s solitary boast!”

The Angel Gabriel greeted her, “Hail Mary, full of grace!” (Lk. 1:28) She was the first light of dawn dispelling the darkness, giving way to the refulgence of the Light of the Son of God! As the moon reflects the light of the sun, Mary is the perfect reflection of the Son of God. Her presence gives warmth to hearts grown cold, healing to hearts that are wounded, valour to the faint-hearted, and the Christ Light to souls darkened by sin.

The Light of Christ first shone forth from the womb of Mary. Through Mary, the Star heralding Christ’s birth penetrated the womb of Elizabeth, causing the baby within her to leap for joy! The light guiding us through the tempests and storms of life is Mary, Star of the Sea! The light in the window welcoming us home is the light of Mary’s motherly love for each one of us, shining from our true home in her Immaculate Heart where she forms her children in the image and likeness of her Divine Son, Jesus.

The Light of Christ that enlightens our minds first illumined the mind of Mary! When the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, Jesus communicated His inscrutable wisdom and truth to Mary, which she imparts to those who fervently ask for it, freeing them from the darkness of ignorance and error, the lies and deceits of the enemy.

Mary, the Mother of Sorrows, stood at the foot of the cross and willingly suffered all the agonies of her Son’s Passion and death for love of us and for our salvation. Saint Louis de Montfort says that Mary is a Martyr because all that Jesus suffered in His Passion and death on the cross, Mary suffered in her Immaculate Heart—a Martyr of Love with her Divine Son for our eternal salvation!

PART 2: MARY, STAR OF THE SEA… from a homily of St. Bernard of Clairvaux

If squalls of temptations arise, or you fall upon the rocks of tribulation, look to the star, call upon Mary. If you are tossed by the waves of pride or ambition, detraction or envy, look to the star, call upon Mary. If anger or avarice, or the desires of the flesh, dash against the ship of your soul, turn your eyes towards Mary. If troubled by the enormity of your crimes, ashamed of your guilty conscience, terrified by dread of the judgment, and you begin to sink into the gulf of sadness or the abyss of despair, think of Mary. In dangers, in anguish, in doubt, think of Mary, call upon Mary. Let her be ever on your lips, ever in your heart; and the better to obtain the help of her prayers, imitate the example of her life.

Following her, you will not stray. Invoking her, you will not despair. Thinking of her, you will not wander. Upheld by her, you will not fall. Shielded by her, you will not fear. Guided by her, you will not grow weary. Favored by her, you will reach the goal. And thus you will experience in yourself how good is that saying: And the Virgin’s name was Mary!

PART 3: A TRUE STORY… by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

As a young man named Francis was assaulted with thoughts of confusion, sadness, and near-despair. Due to erroneous theological ideas—that of Jansenism, which taught that grace was intended only for a predestined elect—Francis was convinced he was among the lost. Barely able to eat or sleep, his life proved to be an almost unbearable cross. However, an occurrence took place that radically transformed the life of this young man. Entering into a Church dedicated to Mary, under the title Our Lady of Victories, the young Francis knelt down in front of a beautiful image of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In front of the image was a prayer to Mary, commonly known as the Memorare, attributed to the last Doctor of the Church, the Mellifluous Doctor, Saint Bernard. With all of his heart, mind, soul, and strength, Francis prayed this prayer to Mary:

“Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known, that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of Virgins, my Mother. To thee do I come, before thee do I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.”

A MIRACULOUS CHANGE: THE CLOUD LIFTED! After praying this prayer with fervor and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, a miracle occurred in young Francis. The dense cloud of sadness, almost despair—lifted, dissipated, and vanished, as if it were, into thin air! The sad, melancholic, and hopeless disposition that had almost consumed him, was transformed in the depths of his soul into peace, happiness, joy, and renewed hope! He was a new young man! This miraculous transformation can most certainly be attributed to the powerful intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary who never fails to come to the rescue of her children! From that moment on, Frances had an intimate, filial, tender, and dynamic love and devotion to Mary, manifested in his frequent praying of the Memorare.

HIGHWAY TO HOLINESS.  Surmounting this interior obstacle, young Francis went on with his studies—that of Law. However, this was not his real vocation! As a result, the young man began studying for and was ordained a priest. He became a great missionary in Chablis, Switzerland, where thousands were converted back to Catholicism from Calvinism, largely due to the holiness and apostolic zeal of this one priest. He was consecrated a Bishop when he was only in his thirties! Thereafter he dedicated a huge block of his evangelizing efforts to writing. Two of his literary masterpieces were Introduction to the Devout Life and Treatise on Love. Not having reached sixty years of age, Francis passed away. Now we know him as Saint Francis de Sales, Doctor of the Church (1567-1622)

The purpose of this short story on the life of Saint Francis de Sales is to highlight the supreme importance of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the life of this saint! Having stood on the edge of the steep precipice of despair, it was due to the powerful intercession of Mary through the Marian prayer attributed to Saint Bernard, the Memorare, that Frances surmounted this overwhelming interior roadblock.

OUR HOPE AND PRAYER.  It is our final hope and prayer that in imitation of Saint Francis de Sales, this great Saint and Doctor of the Church, as well as the many other great saints and lovers of Mary, you will have frequent, filial recourse to Mary. We hope and pray that Mary, your gentle, loving, and all-powerful Mother, will have a central place in your life and your heart with Jesus, your Lord and Savior! Your heart in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, and this forever!

Therefore, may you wake up each day and consecrate yourself to Jesus through Mary. May you walk and talk to Mary throughout your day as your friend, guide, companion, and Mother—your life, your sweetness, and your hope. In your joys, may you rejoice with Mary, and in your sorrows, may you weep with Mary. In your moments of trial and temptation, may you seek refuge in Mary.

FINAL DESIRE.  And of greatest importance, we pray that Our Lady will be present to you at all times, but most especially in the hour of your death, in the last minute of your death, in the last second of your death. May it be through the powerful intercession of Mary that you die in the state of grace, which is the grace of all graces! So that upon dying, you will open your eyes to be welcomed into the eternal and loving embrace of Jesus, the Son of Mary, who will be your Lord, God, King, Friend and Lover for all eternity! Through Mary, may the end of your life be a HAPPY AND VICTORIOUS ENDING!

Fifth Sunday of Lent 

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

SUNDAY, April 3rd    Jn 8:1-11   “Jesus said to her: ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ She replied, ‘No one, sir.’ Then Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.’”

Jesus teaches us forgiveness! He is even more emphatic in the Our Father… “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us!”

FIVE WAYS TO PRACTICE FORGIVENESS by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

The renowned English poet Alexander Pope stated: “To err is human; to forgive is divine.” How true this statement, but how difficult to carry out! At the same time, holding on to resentment is interior slavery. Whereas, truly forgiving is imitating God Himself and setting the captive free, and that captive is us!

Frequently and in unequivocal terms, Jesus has reaffirmed the indispensable obligation of all to forgive those who hurt us, pray for our enemies, and even to do good to them if the opportunity presents itself! Once again, easier said than done! Actually, without God’s grace, to forgive those who have wounded us, and to love and pray for our enemies, far transcends and supersedes our natural powers. In sum, we need Gods’ grace to forgive our enemies.

Jesus is our example in absolutely all we say, and do, and even think in our daily lives! Indeed, He said it clearly: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”(Jn. 14:6) Jesus first began by doing and then by preaching. First actions, then words. His very demanding teaching on forgiveness He lived to perfection at every stage and moment of His earthly existence.

What are some of the teachings of Jesus on mercy and forgiveness? Let’s meditate on a few of them. “Be merciful as your Heavenly Father is merciful.” (Lk. 6:36) In response to Peter’s generous willingness to forgive seven times, Jesus put no limits on it: “No, I say to you, not seven times, but forgive seventy times seven.” (Mt. 18:22) This is hyperbole for the imperious obligation to forgive always, without limits or reservations.

Then Jesus made a Liturgical/Mass allusion. He said if you come to Church to present your offering and you know that your brother has something against you, simply leave the offering at the foot of the altar, reconcile with your brother, and then return to offer the gift. In other words, to celebrate worthily the Liturgy we should strive to be at peace with our brothers and sisters, and not be angry and resentful towards anybody.

Then in the most famous prayer in the world, the Our Father, Jesus gives us this very important command: “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” In other words, forgiveness from God is a two way street. If we want to be a recipient of God’s forgiveness, it is necessary that we forgive those who hurt us.

Finally, the most eloquent witness of God’s forgiveness for all of humanity and for each of us individually, is Jesus hanging on the cross after having been scourged, crowned with thorns and spat upon, derided and mocked incessantly, and finally abandoned by all those He loved but three faithful ones, Our Blessed Mother, Mary Magdalen, and St. John. What is His response as He hangs on the cross ready to breathe forth His spirit? These words, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing.” (Lk. 23:34)

To help us imitate Christ and obey His command to forgive, let us expand on five concrete suggestions to help us on the pathway to forgiveness and mercy!

1. Beg for the Grace

To forgive our enemies, to pray for them and to love them goes far beyond our fallen human nature. We desperately need God’s overflowing and abundant grace! Saint Augustine says that we are all beggars before God. Therefore, we should beg fervently for the grace to forgive others when we are put to the test. God will not deny us this sincere petition and important grace!

2. Forgive Immediately

When we are offended, most often the devil begins working on us right away fostering in our minds thoughts of revenge. Such ugly and vindictive thoughts can easily surface: “Get even!” “Teach him a lesson.” “Give him a taste of his own medicine.” “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” Finally, “Don’t let him get away with this.” At best, this might express our sentiments, as a Protestant preacher once said succinctly: “We will forgive but only after we see him squirm like a worm in hot ashes, at least for a while.” All of these thoughts and feelings are diametrically opposed to the teaching of our Merciful Savior, and we must resist and reject them as soon as we become aware of them. Instead, if we respond to God’s grace of merciful forgiveness, and forgive immediately, there is a very good chance the victory will be ours. In sum, be quick to reject vindictive thoughts and even quicker to forgive, and to accomplish this, pray Hail Marys for this person whenever vindictive thoughts attack you, until those thoughts subside.

3. Humility

Another efficacious spiritual weapon that we have in our armory is that of humility. How? In this way! If forgiveness proves laborious and near impossible, then call to mind your worst and most embarrassing sins and the fact that God forgave you as soon as you begged Him for mercy and forgiveness. Most likely the offense leveled against you now is minimal compared to your most grave and embarrassing sins. This can be a very powerful tool to open up your heart in mercy and forgiveness for others!

4. Mercy is a Two-Way Street

Next, remember that receiving God’s mercy is not a one-way street, but rather a two-way street! Meaning? Jesus said: “Be merciful as your Heavenly Father is merciful.” (Lk. 6: 36) Therefore, if we want to experience God’s Infinite Mercy in our lives, we must first extend merciful forgiveness to those who have offended us. Let us recall once again the prayer Jesus taught us, the Our Father: “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” We will be forgiven only as much as we forgive others! Saint Faustina Kowalska in the Diary: Divine Mercy in My Soul asserts unequivocally that God’s greatest attribute or virtue is His Infinite Mercy. Followers of Jesus, the merciful Savior, must practice this sublime but very demanding virtue, if they desire to receive His mercy! Mercy is God’s love forgiving the sinner. Our decision to forgive our enemies is a clear sign of the victory of God’s grace and mercy in our lives.

5. Jesus Bleeding and Dying on the Cross for You

Possibly the most convincing motivational force to compel us to forgive those who offend us is the serious and silent contemplation of Jesus hanging on the cross, shedding every drop of His most Precious Blood to save all of humanity, but in particular your immortal soul! When you have been hurt and remain unwilling to forgive, lift up your eyes to contemplate Jesus as He hangs from the cross. Remember what He has already gone through: sweating Blood in the Garden, scourging at the Pillar, crowning with thorns, denied by Peter, betrayed by Judas, condemned and nailed to the cross though He was totally innocent, shedding every last drop of His Precious Blood, all for love of you.

What were the first words that issued forth from the most Sacred Heart of Jesus on the cross? Listen, contemplate, and pray! “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing!” (Lk. 23: 34) Meditating upon these words, coupled with the contemplation of Jesus’ bitter Passion as He hung on the cross and shed His most Precious Blood for you, should be the most efficacious tool/hammer to crush your hardened heart that is unwilling to forgive!

Finally, beg Our Lady of Sorrows and Our Lady of Mercy for the grace to forgive. Nobody ever suffered more than Mary, aside from Jesus Himself! Still, as she witnessed her only Son suffer and die on the cross, brutally mistreated, she forgave us from the depths of her Immaculate Heart. May Our Lady attain for us the grace to forgive, to be merciful, and so merit the title of a son or daughter of God the Father, brother or sister to Jesus Christ, and friend of the Holy Spirit in time and for all eternity! Amen!

Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent

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

SATURDAY, April 2nd     Jn 7:40-53   “Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart and yield a harvest through perseverance.”

Anticipating Holy Week, let us honor, love and console Our Blessed Mother for all she suffered for love of Christ and love of us, her children!

CONSOLING THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY

After Jesus, nobody loves us more than Mary in her most pure Immaculate Heart. Also, with the exception of the sufferings of Jesus, there is nobody on earth who has suffered more than Mary.

THE SEVEN SORROWS OF MARY.  The Church invites us to contemplate the Passion of Jesus through the eyes and Heart of Mary. Classically, there are Seven Sorrows of Mary. Especially the Franciscans have a charism for promoting this powerful devotion. These seven sorrows start when Jesus is a little baby in the arms of Mary, up through Jesus’ mangled, bloody, sword-pierced Body in the arms of Mary at the foot of the cross, if you like, the Pieta of Michelangelo!

THE CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF THE SORROWS OF MARY.  The following is an orderly, chronological listing of the Seven Sorrows of Mary, from the Infancy of Jesus up to His death and laying in the arms of Mary, concluding with His burial.

1. PROPHECY OF SIMEON—A sword will pierce your heart!

2. FLIGHT INTO EGYPT—Herod in pursuit to kill the Child Jesus.

3. JESUS LOST IN THE TEMPLE—Mary’s sorrow in losing Jesus for three days!

4. MARY MEETS JESUS ON THE WAY UP CALVARY—Mary’s eyes meet the eyes of Jesus as He carries His cross up Calvary.

5. CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS—Mary stands at the foot of the cross witnessing the crucifixion of her Beloved Son.

6. LOWERING OF JESUS INTO MARY’S ARMS—Now dead, the lifeless Body of Jesus is lowered into the arms of His Mother, Mary.

7. BURIAL OF JESUS—Separation of Jesus and Mary with the burial of Jesus.

In each one of these Seven Sorrows of Mary, we are invited to enter into the mind, soul, and Heart of Mary to experience at least some of Mary’s sorrow, and then to console her. If we truly love a person, we want to share our life with that person, in good times and in bad, in health and in sickness, in riches and in poverty, until death do we part (marriage promises). Our love for Jesus and Mary should far transcend our love on a human and natural level. As the Song of Songs expresses it:  Love is stronger than death.

Therefore, we will offer some concrete means by which we can contemplate the sorrows of Mary and at the same time offer her our consolation. The lover rejoices with the beloved, but is also willing to weep and suffer with the pains and sorrows of the beloved.

1. THE PROPHECY OF SIMEON. 

“A sword of sorrow will pierce your heart so that the thoughts of many may be revealed.” A concrete way in which you can console the Heart of Mary in this contemplation would be to go to confession in honor of Mary. Mary’s powerful prayers and presence will attain for you the grace to examine your conscience and reveal your inmost secrets of conscience to the priest, who represents Jesus. The end result will be absolution, forgiveness, and re-birth into a life of grace. Mary, whose title is full of grace, rejoices every time you open up your mind, heart, and soul to Jesus’ Mercy in Confession.

2. THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT. 

“Saint Joseph got up and taking the Mother and the Child fled into Egypt…” How can you console the Heart of Mary in this painful sorrow? We all live in perpetual spiritual combat, spiritual warfare. You can console the Heart of Mary by imitating good Saint Joseph in fleeing from moral evil—called temptation to sin. When you are tempted to sin, run to Mary; throw yourself into the arms of Mary; seek refuge in the Immaculate Heart of Mary. She is your sure refuge!

3. LOSING AND FINDING JESUS IN THE TEMPLE. 

After three days of sorrowful searching, Mary and Saint Joseph find Jesus in the temple listening to and teaching the Jewish teachers. What might be a concrete application of this third sorrow of Mary? Many mothers and fathers over the past fifty years have lost their children spiritually. That is to say, despite the hard efforts of parents, children still wander from the faith, no longer assist at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and worse still, willfully choose a sinful lifestyle. Just as Jesus was lost and Mary suffered excruciating pains, so do parents suffer intensely at the moral and spiritual loss of their children whom they love so much! Like Saint Monica and the eventual conversion of Saint Augustine, why not pray, and pray, especially many Rosaries so that your lost and wandering prodigal sons and daughters, these lost sheep of the fold, will return. In other words, through the Holy Rosary, place these children in the Heart of Mary.

4. JESUS MEETS MARY ON THE WAY OF THE CROSS. 

As Jesus climbs Calvary on the way to His crucifixion, He meets His Mother Mary. A concrete manner in which to console Mary is to imitate Jesus in carrying your crosses. However, with this important stipulation: share your crosses with Mary first. The mere presence of Mary as she contemplated Jesus with the cross on His shoulders, consoled Jesus. Dig deep into your heart so as to identify your biggest cross, as well as your smaller ones. Then bring these crosses to the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary. Imitating a little child in the arms of his mother, talk to Mary about these crosses. She is very interested in helping you carry your crosses with faith, trust, and love. Often our crosses seem overwhelming; they are just too heavy, thorny, and splintery to carry because we are trying to carry them by ourselves, without inviting Mary to help us! We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

5. JESUS SUFFERS AND DIES ON THE CROSS—WITH MARY AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS. 

In this most painful mystery of the crucifixion, passion, suffering, and death of Jesus, Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows, was present the whole time. Jesus spoke from the cross to John and Mary: “‘Woman behold thy son; son behold thy mother.’ From that time on, the disciple took her into his home. ”(Jn. 19:26-27)  In that moment Jesus gave Mary—in the person of Saint John—to the world as our universal spiritual Mother, as your Mother. Your way to console Mary in this mystery? Imitate Saint Juan Diego and the little boy in the movie Marcelino, pan y vino aka the Miracle of Marcelino. In what way? Very simple: be like a small child and tell Mary everything that is happening in your life. Trust totally and unreservedly in the Maternal Presence and Heart of your loving Mother.

6. JESUS PLACED IN THE ARMS OF MARY. 

The artist Michelangelo depicted this masterfully in the famous Pieta. The film producer, Mel Gibson presented this in the movie The Passion of the Christ in a most powerful and moving fashion. How can we console the Heart of Mary? To love Jesus is to love Mary; they are inseparable! The suffering Body of Jesus is present in His Mystical Body, the Church. In a most powerful and special way, the Body of Christ comes to us in the greatest of all the Sacraments, the most Holy Eucharist within the context of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The greatest single gesture that we can to on the face of the earth is to receive Jesus, the Son of Mary, in Holy Communion. Therefore, a superb way in which we can console the Heart of Mary is to pray to receive Jesus in Holy Communion through Mary’s most pure and Immaculate Heart. Nobody ever received Jesus with greater love than the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

7. JESUS TAKEN FROM MARY AND BURIED IN THE TOMB.

In this last of the Seven Sorrows, we witness the separation of Jesus and Mary when Jesus is placed in the tomb and buried. Without a doubt, one of the best ways we can console and rejoice the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary is to beg Mary for the grace to die daily to sin—the greatest evil that exists! Then, of greatest importance, beg Mary for the grace of a holy and happy death. By constantly praying to Mary the Hail Mary and the Holy Rosary, with Mary’s help we are preparing ourselves for the most important moment in our life: the very moment that we die! This will determine our eternal destiny—eternal salvation or eternal loss. We trust that through Mary’s prayers we will attain eternal salvation. May this be our prayer every night, and the moment we die: 

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I give you my heart and my soul. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, make my heart like unto thine. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, assist me in my last agony. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I breathe forth my soul unto thee. O Sacrament most holy, O Sacrament divine, all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine!

Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent

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

FRIDAY, April 1st      Jn 7:1-2, 10, 25-30   “Jesus moved about within Galilee; he did not wish to travel in Judea, because the Jews were trying to kill him.”

LENTEN REFLECTION: UNITING OUR SACRIFICES & SUFFERINGS WITH THOSE OF CHRIST by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

Our short life on earth has infinite value. We have both great dignity and eternal destiny. Our dignity? We are sons and daughters of God through the Sacrament of Baptism. Our destiny? We are all pilgrims on a journey heading towards our eternal homeland and that is Heaven.

VALUE OF SUFFERING.  Of immense value for the human person in the eyes of God is that of suffering. However, suffering in and of itself, separated from a supernatural perspective, has no real value. If you like, suffering either makes us better or bitter.  

ANGELS LOOKING DOWN ON HUMANITY.  In the Diary of Saint Faustina, the angels view the human person with a holy envy and for two reasons. First, the human person is capable of receiving the incredible Gift of the most Holy Eucharist—the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus in Holy Communion. The angels in heaven will never have this extraordinary privilege. Also, the angels cannot suffer. The angels understand that suffering, if viewed and accepted properly, has infinite value and can be most pleasing to God. In fact, Jesus, the Incarnate Word, chose the path of suffering as the means by which the salvation of the world would be consummated.

OUR LADY OF FATIMA’S MESSAGE.  Our Lady of Fatima told the three children, Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta to pray and offer sacrifices for sinners. Our Lady expressed with sadness that many souls are lost because not enough generous souls offer prayers and sacrifices for the salvation of poor sinners. Another name for sacrifice is that of accepting willingly some form of suffering. This message of Our Lady of Fatima can be applied to ourselves in our specific state of life and our own sufferings. Nobody in the world can avoid the reality of suffering.

OFFER IT UP!  These three short words sum up the entire message: offer it up! When God, in His Infinite Wisdom, decides to visit you with some form of suffering, it is of enormous importance to accept the suffering given from the loving and providential Hands of God and offer it up. Remember, suffering can either make us better or bitter. Suffering can either save souls or be wasted!

HOW TO OFFER UP OUR SUFFERINGS?  When we are suffering, let us strive to unite our suffering to the Cross—to the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus. This is sometimes called the Paschal Mystery of Christ. United with Jesus in our lives, actions, and especially our sufferings, there is infinite value.

OFFERING IN UNION WITH THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS.  Jesus died once on the cross on Calvary about 2000 years ago. Jesus dies no more! However, it must be said that every time the priest celebrates the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, what happened on Calvary 2000 years ago is renewed and made present. In a real way, in every Mass Jesus offers Himself as the spotless Victim to the Father for the salvation of the world. Pope Saint John Paul II adds that in every Mass, as it happened on Calvary, Mary is present in a mystical but very real way!

START NOW TO OFFER YOUR SUFFERINGS.  Therefore, let us no longer waste these golden opportunities that God offers us when we undergo any form of suffering, and start to unite our sufferings with Jesus’ suffering on the cross. Better yet, in union with Mary! Place your sufferings first in the hands of Mary, then in her Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart. Then ask Mary to deposit these sufferings on the altar where the Mass is celebrated to be joined to the sufferings of Christ. Living this style of life will transform even your smallest sufferings into an infinite reservoir of abundant graces.

SUFFERINGS THAT CAN BE OFFERED TO JESUS THROUGH MARY IN THE MASS.

Our Lady of Fatima, when asked by the children what they should offer to God, responded “everything”. Make your lives a holocaust, a living sacrifice of atonement, reparation, and praise. We will offer a few concrete suggestions on what we can offer to God through the Heart of Mary.

1. THE INCLEMENT WEATHER.  We would all prefer sunny days with the birds chirping their melodies and the fragrant aroma of flowers in full bloom. But this is not always the case. The bitter cold, the rain, the sleet, and the powerful winds characterize the real weather forecast many days.  Instead of complaining about the weather, accept it, then thank God and unite it to Jesus on the cross.

2. HEALTH CONDITIONS.  As a result of Original Sin all of humanity suffers weakening health, sicknesses, at times diseases, as well as viruses. This too is inescapable! Why not unite your own physical health conditions, your suffering, to Jesus on the cross. The value of this offering is infinite!

3. PANDEMIC: CORONAVIRUS (COVID).  A world-wide pandemic as such is unique in the history of the world. Instead of wasting this universal suffering, why not unite it to the cross of Jesus on Calvary in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Of most special interest should be those who are in their last stages of life whatever the cause, and are about to breathe forth their spirit to the Eternal Father. May their sufferings be a sacrifice pleasing to God for the salvation of souls, including their own!

4. FAMILY SUFFERINGS.  Many fervent and prayerful Moms and Dads suffer excruciating pains as they see the children they raised as Catholics, having received all the Sacraments, unfortunately wander from the fold and abandon the faith. Despite the invitations, exhortations, and bitter tears of their parents, their children are living oblivious of God, as if He did not even exist. In this case more than ever, Moms and Dads should not fall into discouragement, much less despair. On the contrary, parents should deposit their sufferings and their wandering children on the altar of the Mass where Jesus offers His wounds to the Eternal Father, and the Father is well-pleased! Saint Monica prayed for Augustine until he converted at 31 years of age—patience!!!

5. SPIRITUAL DRYNESS.  Anybody who takes their spiritual life seriously will eventually encounter dryness or aridity, most specifically, in their prayer life. This is called the dry-desert experience. Instead of abandoning the struggle, throwing in the towel and calling it quits, hang in there and pray just the same. Indeed, this can entail great suffering, but a spiritual suffering very efficacious and pleasing to God. Unite your spiritual dryness with Jesus in His Agony in the Garden and place it on the altar of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Jesus experienced an intense state of desolation. Nonetheless, He prayed all the more intensely and fervently! He is our Model!

6. THE DEATH OF LOVED ONES.  Sometimes, when confronted with the death of our loved ones, our faith and hope can be shaken. In this critical moment, how very important it is to place our loved ones who have passed from this world to the next on the altar in the Mass and beg for their eternal salvation. “It is not important a long life, but a holy life.” (Imitation of Christ, Thomas Kempis) Acceptance and conformity to God’s providential will is our only sure answer. We should not question why God took their life, but what we can do in the present for their soul, as well as our own!

7. UPSET PLANS ON A DAILY BASIS.  None of us rejoice over people and circumstances interrupting our schedule, our plans, our well thought-out projects! However, whether we like it or not, our plans and projects will meet with frequent interruptions. Instead of losing our calm and composure, why not simply accept the contradictions and unite them to Jesus’ Cross of Contradiction. Place them on the cross of Calvary in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. So that the work you fail to accomplish may work to save souls!

In conclusion, my friends in Jesus and Mary, suffering is a human reality that no one can avoid. Whether we are believers or non-believers, practicing Catholics or atheists, great contemplative mystics or had-core materialists, suffering is part of the human condition. But remember the short maxim: “Suffering either makes you better or bitter.” Bitter, if we suffer for the mere sake of suffering! Better, in fact sanctified and growing in holiness, if we unite our suffering with the suffering of Jesus on the cross in Holy Mass.

Therefore, starting today call to mind the sufferings of your life each day. Place these precious jewels in the hands and Heart of Mary. She will deposit them on the altar of the cross of Calvary. Your sufferings, united to the sufferings of Jesus and Mary, will indeed have infinite value for the salvation of souls—your soul, the souls of your loved ones, and the souls of many others in time and for all eternity!

Thursday of the Fourth Week of Lent

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

THURSDAY, March 31st   Jn 5:31-47   Verse before the Gospel:  “God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.”

How much the Father loves us, to give us His Only-Begotten Son that we might have eternal life with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for all eternity!!!

GOD’S INFINITE LOVE FOR YOU AND FOR ME! By Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

One of the principal reasons why we commit sin is because we do not really understand the love that God has for each and every one of us. Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen defines love in these simple but profound words: Sin is hurting the one you love. This is a very personal definition. That is to say, sin is hurting and damaging your relationship with God, and maybe even rupturing it to the point of severing the relationship.

The primary question that each one of us should ask ourselves in the depths of our heart is this: do I really believe that God loves me personally, permanently, unreservedly, and infinitely? This brief essay is aimed at helping us to be convinced of God’s Infinite Love for us. Consequently, it will be much easier when confronted with temptations to sin, to reject them. And the reason is because I do not want to hurt God who loves me so much. In other words, serious sin is not simply breaking a commandment, but breaking the Heart of God!

How then do we know that God really loves us with an Infinite Love? The following are some reasons.

1. ORIGINAL SIN AND THE INCARNATION.

A very consoling truth in the Catholic faith is that God allows evil so that He can bring a greater good out of the evil. Saint Paul asserts: Where sin abounds, the grace of God abounds all the more.” (Rom 5:20) If you like, God can turn a tremendous tragedy into a glorious victory! One of the clearest and most penetrating manifestations of this truth is the reality of Original Sin, and consequently, the Incarnation. God gave Adam and Eve freedom which they abused by committing the Original Sin. However, God the Father intervened by sending His only-begotten Son, Jesus, born of the Blessed Virgin Mary to save us. As we sing in the Easter Vigil Mass in the Exultet: O happy fault, O necessary sin of Adam, which gained for us so great a Redeemer! Therefore, the Incarnation of Jesus, the Son of God made man, was done for love of you and me. How great the love of God — “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son” — that the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity might become man to save us from the devil, slavery to sin, and eternal damnation.   

2. THE LIFE OF JESUS AS A MODEL FOR ALL OF US. 

Another sign of God’s Infinite Love for us is the Person, the Pattern and Model of perfection that Jesus is for all of us. As to living in the truth, we are not like blind men, or men living in caves, or a man running around like a chicken with it’s head cut off, far from it! How we are to act, what are we to say, who we are called to become—all of these questions can be responded to with one word and that is the Word of God, the Logos—JESUS THE LORD! Our whole existence should be a constant study of the Person—the life, words and actions of Jesus. For Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life!

3. THE PASSION, SUFFERING AND DEATH OF JESUS! 

In the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, in the 3rd Week of the month Retreat, the topic for meditation or contemplation is on the Passion, suffering and death of Jesus. The retreatant is invited to enter into the very life of Jesus, to enter into the very Heart of Jesus, and to beg for the grace to suffer with Jesus—not an easy grace to beg for! Moreover, Saint Ignatius emphasizes this extraordinary truth: Jesus suffered all of His Passion for love of you. Indeed, if you were the only person in the whole created universe, Jesus would have gone through all the most excruciating pains and tortures for love of you. His sweating Blood as He agonized in the Garden, His bloody scourging, His crowning with piercing thorns, His carrying of the cross and falling under its heavy weight, His crucifixion shedding more of His Precious Blood, His prolonged agony on the cross those three long hours, His breathing forth His spirit into the hands of the Heavenly Father, and even the piercing of His Sacred Heart after He was already dead, with His precious Blood and water gushing forth. All this intense and indescribable suffering, and much more, He went through because of His Infinite Love for you and your eternal salvation. Stop to meditate upon this profound truth and tell the Lord Jesus how thankful you are. Beg Jesus for the grace right now to truly love Him with all your heart, mind, soul and strength!

4. THE CHURCH AND THE SACRAMENTS.

Jesus promised that He would not leave us orphans, but that He would send us the Consoler, the Paraclete, that is to say, the Holy Spirit. Still more, Jesus left us until the end of time, His constant and perpetual Presence in His One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. However, of supreme importance is the institution and reality of the greatest of all of the Sacraments and that is the most Holy Eucharist, with the holy priesthood to perpetuate it! Jesus loves us so much and continues to love us until the end of time and forever in heaven. On earth, this love is most present to all who believe in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in which the sublime fruit is the Eucharist which reaches its zenith in the reception of Holy Communion. We must remind ourselves over and over again of the sublime and ineffable truth that Holy Communion is Jesus loving us, Jesus embracing us! Holy Communion is really and substantially Jesus in His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. Indeed, Jesus loves us so much that He wants to become one with us, love in us, abide in us, be part of us. Jesus wants our body to become one with His Body. Jesus wants His Precious Blood to circulate and flow through our veins and enter into our very heart. Jesus wants His mind to be our mind; as Saint Paul says: “Put on the mind of Christ… you have the mind of Christ.” (1Cor 2:16) Jesus wants His very soul to enter into our soul to sanctify and strengthen our soul. All of this truly becomes a reality every time that we receive Holy Communion worthily, with faith, devotion, and a burning heart of love. How much Jesus really loves us in all times and in all places! Understanding the immense and personal love of Jesus through His Mystical Body the Church, and especially through the most sublime Sacrament of the Eucharist, motivates us to renounce sin when it is knocking at the door of our hearts. We do not want to hurt Jesus who loves us so much!

5. JESUS’ PRECIOUS GIFT TO US FROM THE CROSS! 

The love that Jesus has for you continues and will continue always, even into eternity! As He hung on the cross in painful agony and abandonment, Jesus gave to the whole world, but to you individually, the great gift of His Mother to be your mother. The words of Jesus were addressed to you and to me: “Woman behold thy son, son behold thy Mother; from that moment the beloved disciple took Mary into his home.” (Jn 19: 26-27) Jesus loves you so much that from all eternity He willed to leave for your peace, joy, consolation, and love, the gift of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In giving Mary to Saint John, Jesus was also giving Mary to be your tender, loving, meek and humble, and compassionate Mother. You can turn to Mary as your Mother in all times, places, circumstances, and contradictions of life. Mary is always present and willing to listen to you, console you, comfort you, and love you with the heart of the most loving of mothers.

In conclusion, when temptation to sin knocks at the door of our hearts, we should call to mind the Incarnation of Jesus, the Son of God made man, His life on earth, His Passion and death that He suffered for us, the Church and especially the Eucharist that He left us, and lastly the gift of Mary as our loving Mother. Keenly convinced of these truths, we can more easily say NO to sin and YES to love and a deep friendship with Jesus, the faithful Friend who will never fail us!

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