Friday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

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

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18TH    Mk 8: 34-9:1    Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the Gospel will save it.”

POWER OF THE CROSS OF JESUS CHRIST – A CONTEMPLATION By Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

Let us meditate upon what the saints have said about the power of the cross and then spend time in silence and meditate upon the crucifix, the most eloquent symbol of love in the entire world. With Saint Francis of Assisi who bore the wounds of Christ in his body through the mystical grace of the stigmata, let us pray with all of our heart: “We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.”

WHAT SOME OF THE SAINTS HAVE SAID ABOUT THE CROSS…

“It is not the finest wood that feeds the fire of Divine love, but the wood of the cross.” (St. Ignatius of Loyola)

“Whenever anything disagreeable or displeasing happens to you, remember Christ crucified and be silent.” (St. John of the Cross)

“The road is narrow. He who wishes to travel it more easily must cast off all things and use the cross as his cane. In other words, he must be truly resolved to suffer willingly for the love of God in all things.”  (St. John of the Cross)

“The Passion of Christ is the greatest and most stupendous work of Divine Love. The greatest and most overwhelming work of God’s love.”  (St. Paul of the Cross)

“O cherished cross! Through thee my most bitter trials are replete with graces.” (St. Paul of the Cross)

“Our Savior’s passion raises men and women from the depths, lifts them up from the earth, and sets them in the heights.” (St. Maximus of Turin)

Now let us enter into our own meditation/contemplation on the Mystery of the Holy Cross as we lift our gaze to a graphic crucifix and peer into the five deep wounds of Jesus, who loved me so much that He was crucified, suffered and died for me. How great is the love of God for me!!!

1. CRUCIFIX ON THE WALL OF THE BEDROOMS IN YOUR HOME. 

It is highly recommended that all of your bedrooms have a crucifix on the wall. A crucifix has a Corpus— meaning, the Body of Christ nailed to the wood of the cross. The cross without the Corpus of Christ almost deprives the cross of its real meaning: Jesus suffered and died on the cross; His Body hung on the cross for three long hours, from 12 noon to 3:00 pm, for our salvation!

2. CONTEMPLATE THE CROSS. 

Get into the habit before retiring every night of spending at least a few moments in silence contemplating, looking deeply at the cross and He who died on the cross for love of you—the Savior, Jesus Christ, and offer Him your immense love and gratitude. Contemplation is a form of prayer in which we think deeply with our mind and love immensely with our heart for the immense love that Jesus has not just for all, but for me individually.

3. RECALL TO MIND THE WORDS OF JESUS ON THE CROSS.                   

A very salutary and sanctifying practice is to call to mind the seven last words (phrases) that Jesus pronounced from the cross. Take these words into your mind and your heart. Ven. Fulton J. Sheen asserts that from the pulpit of the cross, Jesus preached His last and best homily. Let us be attentive students and listeners. (Listed below)

4. MEMORIZE THE SEVEN LAST WORDS OF JESUS, THE MOST ELOQUENT PREACHER:

Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing. (Lk 23:34)

Amen, I say to you: today you will be with me in Paradise. (Lk 23:43)

Woman behold thy son; son behold thy Mother. (Jn 19:26-27)

I thirst. (Jn 19:28)

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Mt 27:46)

It is finished. (Jn. 19:30)

Father, into your hands I commend my spirit. (Lk 23:46)

5. IMITATE THE WORDS OF CHRIST.

Prayer is not simply a cerebral, that is, a merely intellectual function. Prayer involves the whole person. St. Francis and many of the saints would express their love for their crucified Savior by kissing Jesus’ five wounds on the crucifix. You do the same! By doing so, you are manifesting the heartfelt love that you have for Jesus. Every one of those open wounds that Jesus endured – the nails that perforated His hands and His feet, the lance that entered His side and pierced His Heart causing blood and water to gush forth, were for love of you and for your eternal salvation. How great is the love of the crucified Savior for you and how great His desire for the salvation of your immortal soul.

6. LIKE MARCELINO TALK TO JESUS

(Movie: Miracle of Marcelino – 1955 black and white version.) In this movie-classic, imitate the little orphan boy, Marcelino, and talk to the Lord Jesus from the depths of your heart. Use simple words, but words anointed with great love and passion, expressing your heartfelt gratitude for the Lord Jesus and all He did for you.

7. CONTEMPLATE THE CROSS AND CALVARY RELATED TO HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS.

As you lift your gaze to Jesus hanging from the cross, call to mind the intimate relationship between Jesus crucified on Good Friday on Calvary and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Invisible as it is, and with the utmost depth of mystical meaning, every time an ordained priest offers the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, then Calvary and the crucified Lord Jesus is present. In every Mass, the fruits of the crucified Lord are available to all of humanity. Next time you go to Mass, contemplate the big Crucifix on the wall behind the priest who is celebrating Mass and remember that Calvary is present when the priest lifts up the Host and elevates the Chalice! O Sacrament most holy, O Sacrament divine, all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine!

8. JESUS’ OPEN ARMS ON THE CROSS. 

Contemplate now the open arms of Jesus as He hangs from the cross. There is depth of meaning here. Saint Augustine, giving a symbolic interpretation of the crucifix and the position of Jesus Body says: Jesus has His head bent to kiss us; His arms open to embrace us; and His heart open to receive us! Jesus’ open arms are symbolic of the arms of the Father of the Prodigal Son. The meaning? Despite the sad reality of our many sins, God always, in all times and on all occasions, has His arms wide-open to receive us – symbolic of forgiveness. As the Prophet Isaiah reminds us: “Though your sins be as scarlet, they will be as white as the snow.” (Is. 1:18) In concrete, Jesus beckons us to return to Him with a sincere and contrite heart through the reception of the Sacrament of His Mercy, the Sacrament of Confession, and be renewed, reformed, and made anew!

9. JESUS BLOOD STAINED BODY AND GARMENTS. 

As you contemplate the blood-stained body of Jesus and the few garments, the virtue of purity and modesty should surge in your mind and heart. Both the stripping of Jesus, as well as the brutal scourging at the pillar were accepted willingly by Jesus to repair for the countless sins of impurity committed by all of humanity and by us individually. Our Lady of Fatima commented sadly that most souls are lost due to the sins against the 6th and 9th Commandments; that is to say, sins committed against the virtue of purity. May our contemplation of the lacerated and bloody Body of the Lord Jesus inspire within us a great desire for purity—in body, mind, thought, word, deed, desire and intention. Jesus taught us in the Beatitudes: Blessed are the pure of heart, they will see God. (Mt. 5:8)

10.  THE CROSS AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS                                          

As you look up to the cross and contemplate Jesus with love recall His words:  Anyone who wishes to be my follower must renounce himself, take up his cross, and follow me. (Mt. 16:24) Spend some quiet time in prayer before the Crucified Lord Jesus and open up the very depths of your heart, pour out your feelings and emotions with respect to your own crosses. Jesus desires to listen to you, to accompany you, and to really help you. He is not indifferent to the cries and supplications of your heart but desires to help you. What might be your cross or crosses? A health problem, an economic strait, a difficult relative, a rebellious son or daughter, a tense relationship with a spouse, a work conflict, a spiritual doubt, the loss of a loved one, the pain of a past deep wound, fear of the dark and ominous clouds of the future, the fear of suffering and of your own mortality and death. All of the above can be the subject of your colloquy with the crucified Lord Jesus. Our cross often is simply too heavy because we fail to invite Jesus to come and help us carry our cross. Invite Him. Listen to His words: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give your rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. (Mt 11:28-30)

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

Thursday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

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

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17TH    Mk 8: 27-33   “He asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter said to him in reply, ‘You are the Christ.’”

Peter’s response is inspired by the Holy Spirit. Today, through Fr. Ed’s reflection, may the Holy Spirit enlighten our minds and hearts as to who Jesus truly is…

LOOK TO THE LORD AND BE RADIANT WITH JOY! By Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

The Psalmist invites us into the joy of the Lord. How? “Look to the Lord and be radiant with joy.” (Ps 34:5) Indeed, if we truly look to the Lord with purity of eyes, heart, mind, soul and purity of intention, then we will experience an ineffable and almost indescribable joy.

When the blind man in the Gospel begged Jesus to touch him, this poor man really wanted to experience joy after the intense sorrow that sprung from his blindness, his inability to see anything in the created world. Jesus healed his blindness in stages. Jesus put spittle on his eyes and he was able to see imperfectly, but after Jesus put His hands on the blind man he was able to see perfectly. Who do you think was the first person this blind man saw after he recovered his sight? Almost certainly it would have been the compassionate smile on the Face of Jesus.

Indeed this man lived out the clarion call of the Psalmist: “Look to the Lord and be radiant with joy.” After experiencing the painful darkness of blindness, this man overflowing with joy could not only contemplate the beauty of God’s natural creation, but the Face of God in the Person of Jesus Christ!

A powerful example for all of us is the person of Simon-Peter, most specifically when He saw Jesus with his eyes from a distance as Jesus was walking on the water approaching the boat that was being tossed to and fro by the violent waves. Fearful, the Apostles cried out: “A ghost!” Jesus assured them that it was not a ghost but Himself, Jesus the Lord.

Simon Peter got out of the boat and actually started to walk on the waves towards Jesus, but then Simon Peter started to sink in the waves. The reason for his sinking? Quite clear: Simon Peter lifted his eyes from Jesus. In doing so, Peter paid more attention to the problem than the Problem-solver—Jesus the Lord! The essence of the problem of the sinking of Simon Peter was that instead of fixing his eyes on the eyes of Jesus who was walking on the water toward him, he focused his eyes on the wind, the waves and his own lack of faith and trust in Jesus. As soon as Peter took his eyes off Jesus, he sank into the cold water! Jesus gently rebukes Peter for his lack of faith and failure to look into the eyes of the Lord. Then Jesus takes Peter by the hand and he walks again right into the boat, and the boat crosses quickly to the shore with speed and graceful ease!

In the many problems, trials and tribulations that absorb and engulf us, we must strive with all the fiber of our being to lift our eyes and focus them on the Holy Face and eyes of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. “Look to the Lord and be radiant with joy.”

How then can we right now focus our eyes on Jesus and “Look to the Lord and be radiant with joy?” Indeed, it is just as possible now as it was over 2000 years ago! We must have eyes of faith to see Jesus, as did the blind man who was cured and looked into the Face and eyes of Jesus, His Friend and Healer.

Where then can we seek and find the Face of Jesus so that indeed we can “Seek the Lord and be filled with joy?” Let us immerse ourselves in this mystery and contemplate both the Face and eyes of Jesus.

1. HANDS OF THE PRIEST AT CONSECRATION.

Every time you attend the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and the moment of Consecration arrives. When the priest pronounces the words of consecration, repeating the words that Jesus said at the Last Supper, and the bread is elevated first, and then the wine, in this double consecration you are truly contemplating the Face and the eyes of Jesus. “Look to the Lord Jesus in the consecrated Host and chalice and be filled with joy.”

2. THE TABERNACLE.

Before and after celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, Jesus is placed in the Tabernacle for the sick so that He may be visited by those who really love Him as their Best Friend. By contemplating the Tabernacle you are contemplating where Jesus lives and desires to be visited.

3. THE MONSTRANCE.

In solemn Eucharistic veneration and adoration, the Eucharistic Lord Jesus is taken from the Tabernacle and placed in the sacred vessel called the Monstrance. The word Monstrance, taken from Latin, means to show. The Lord Jesus is being manifested publicly so that He can look at us with His Eucharistic eyes and we can look at Him with faith and love. Once again: “Look to the Lord and be radiant with joy.”

4. IN HOLY IMAGES: THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS. 

Even though this is symbolic, by contemplating with reverence and love a painting or a statue of the most Sacred Heart of Jesus we are contemplating the Face of Jesus depicted artistically by that image. “Come to me all of you who are weary and find life burdensome and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me because I am meek and humble of Heart. You will find rest for your souls, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Mt 11:28-30) Through the holy image we can arrive at the reality of the Face and eyes of Jesus, the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings.”

5. THE DIVINE MERCY IMAGE. 

Jesus promised, through His Divine Mercy Secretary, Saint Faustina Kowalska, that those who look at and venerate this image will receive most special and signal graces. Jesus promised Faustina that His powerful grace will work through those who venerate this image. This of course implies those who contemplate with their eyes this image of love.

6. THE POOR, THE SICK, AND THE SUFFERING.

As followers of Jesus, we cannot leap over and forget that Jesus’ Face, and it is His suffering Face, is revealed through people, most especially those who suffer. Jesus said: “I was hungry and you gave me to eat; thirsty and you gave me to drink; naked and you clothed me; a foreigner and you welcomed me; sick and in prison and you came to visit me.’ When? Whenever we did it to one of these least of His brothers we did it to Him.” (Mt 25). Therefore, Jesus whom we contemplate in the Mass, the Tabernacle, and the Monstrance, we also must see in our brothers and sisters who suffer any form of need.

7. HANGING ON THE CROSS.

Many of the saints, moved to the very depths of their souls, could not fail to contemplate the man of suffering and that man is the Crucified Lord Jesus. If you have a chance, view the movie Marcelino: Pan y vino, aka The Miracle of Marcelino (1955 version). This little orphan boy sees Jesus on the cross. He talks to Jesus. He brings Jesus favors, and dies under the loving gaze of Jesus on the cross. Let us learn the infinite value of contemplating Jesus on the cross. He died for love of you and me.

8. CONTEMPLATE THE EYES AND FACE OF JESUS WITHIN OUR SOULS.

It is a solid teaching of our Catholic faith that once we are baptized and maintain the state of grace in our souls that not only can Jesus be contemplated in the very depths of our souls but also the Blessed Trinity. Carmelite Spirituality teaches this as the Indwelling of the Blessed Trinity in our soul through grace. Jesus states it clearly and unequivocally: “The Kingdom of God is within you.” (Lk 17:21)

9. IN THE FRIENDS OF JESUS: THE SAINTS.

As we contemplate the starry sky at night, each one of the stars breaks forth in a special glimmer. However, each glimmer is different, distinct from the surrounding stars. So it is with the saints. By contemplating the saints, they all reflect the eyes and Face of Jesus but with a different gleam and glimmer. By contemplating the lives and the faces of the saints, we can Look to the Lord and be radiant with joy.

10. MARY: THE MOTHER OF THE LORD JESUS.  

Pope Saint John Paul II in his Apostolic Letter “The Blessed Virgin Mary and the Rosary” stated that Mary’s eyes were always contemplating the Face of Jesus in all the different stages of the earthly life of Jesus. Mary contemplated Jesus in her womb; then in her arms as a Baby. Mary contemplated the Child and adolescent Jesus. Then she contemplated Him as a young man as Preacher, Healer and Great Lover. Finally, Mary contemplated Jesus as the man of sorrows on the cross and the Risen Lord Jesus. Let us beg Mary to lend us her eyes to contemplate the eyes and Face of Jesus and indeed we will be able to look to the Lord and be radiant with joy.”

As we conclude our reflection, let us strive to live in constant peace and joy. However, let us be truly cognizant of the fact that true peace and joy comes from the Lord. During the course of our brief pilgrimage and journey in life heading towards our eternal homeland—Heaven—may we have our eyes fixed on the Face and eyes of Jesus the Lord. Let us look to the Lord and be radiant with joy. If our eyes are truly fixed on the Lord in this life, then we will arrive at Heaven where with our eyes, our heart, our mind, and our soul we will contemplate the beauty of the eyes of Jesus, Mary, and Saint Joseph and the Blessed Trinity for all eternity. “Look to the Lord and be radiant with joy.”

Wednesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

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

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16TH    Mk 8: 22-26   “‘Do you see anything?’ Looking up the man replied, ‘I see people looking like trees and walking.’ Then he laid hands on the man’s eyes a second time and he saw clearly.” 

St. Ignatius of Loyola suffered a serious injury with a long convalescence. Reluctantly reading the lives of the saints his eyes were opened a little… then a little more, the beginning of his conversion from sinner to saint.

SANCTITY IN THE SMALL THINGS by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV  

As Jesus watched at the entrance of the Temple the money being thrown into the treasure box, He did not pay so much attention to the rich and their large sums that they threw in. Rather they wanted to be seen and applauded for their abundance given ostentatiously.

Then a poor widow threw a few small coins in the treasure box barely amounting to anything! This was the person whom Jesus looked at with great love and approval. Why? Not for the economic substance of her offering—it was barely anything. Rather, Jesus read the depths of her heart. She was giving generously all that she had to live on.

The message is the following: man can see and judge from mere appearances. But Jesus reads the inner movements of the human heart. What often is worthy of praise in the eyes of the world, Jesus despises. On the contrary, what the world deems as insignificant, Jesus highly approves and praises.

St. Therese and her Little Way can be our way, and the way and path to holiness! Holiness does not depend simply on the greatness of the action, but rather on the intensity of love that accompanies the action.

In other words, the secret to holiness is on a daily basis trying to do the ordinary things of daily life with extraordinary love. That is the key! So much so that Saint Therese was known to say: “Pick up a pin for the love of God and you can save a soul.” Picking up a pin, physically speaking, is no big deal! However, if this action is done in the Presence of God, for the intention of pleasing God, and with great purity of intention in the eyes of His Mother, then indeed, it has infinite value in the eyes of God.

Most of us are not involved in monumental and monolithic activities that will make the front page of the New York Times or the Wall Street Journal. On the contrary, many of our actions are the most ordinary and mundane. But they can have infinite value if we know the secret of offering them and seeing them soaring to the throne of God.

Most of the normal activities of a homemaker do not make the newspaper or the 6:00 p.m. news. Sweeping the floor, taking out the garbage, buying, preparing, and serving meals, and cleaning the dishes, pots, pans afterwards—all of these are the glorious routine of thousands of home-makers and Moms!

If the Mom does all this but with an attitude of complaining, with a scowl on her face and playing out the role of the poor victim, then her merit in the eyes of God is reduced to almost nothing.

However, if this Mom rises in the morning and offers her day to Jesus through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and willingly offers everything she does to please God, to sanctify her family and to save souls, then her actions have great value.

The same can also be said of a Dad who provides for his family—shelter, food, clothing, medicine, all their needs by the daily grind of work, but with the same intentions.

What can be of infinite value for the sanctification of our daily actions are two specific intentions and actions. We do our actions through the powerful intercession of Mary, “God’s masterpiece of creation”, uniting our actions to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

First, the importance of going to Jesus through the intercession of Mary. Mary is the short-cut to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Saint Louis de Montfort paints this image. A poor man wants to give a bruised apple to the King. No way will the poor man have access to the King; much less will the King receive the apple, especially a bruised apple. However, the poor man knows the Queen, and she has a real affection for the poor man. The Queen takes the apple, cleans and polishes it, then places it on a golden platter next to a beautiful rose. The King, loving the Queen, receives the apple most willingly, not because of the quality of the apple, but because of the person who gave him the apple, his lovely bride, the Queen.

Likewise, for us it must be the same! Our actions are like the apple. In and of themselves our actions are often tainted and spoiled by our enormous self-love and egotism. However, if we can give ourselves and our actions to the King through the hands and heart of the Queen, then the King—who is Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords—will not refuse it. In other words, Mary can help to ennoble and sanctify our smallest actions.

Second, we must unite our actions and intentions with Jesus in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Every Holy Mass that is offered has infinite value. Why? For the simple but profound reason that Jesus is offering Himself as a Victim of expiation for our sins to the Father. The Father looks at His Son and says: “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” And the Father can deny His Son nothing!

Now how is this translated from the mystical into the practical? Not too complicated! Go to Mass, but arrive early before Mass has started. Give yourself at least a good 15 minutes.

Now open up your heart with an infinite trust in Jesus, His love for the Father, His love for you, and His love for the entire world. In opening your heart place all that you were, are, and will be on the altar before Mass has even started. Your day and your activities—place them now on the altar, absolutely everything—hold nothing back! Your cooking and cleaning at home or your challenges at work, your battle with your teenage son, your struggle with your spouse, your fear of the future and insecurities in the present, your headache and clouded mind!

The key is that you want to place all on the altar even before Mass starts. Place your total self on the altar—all that you have been, all that you are now, and all that you will become this day, you are offering to the Lord. Every minute detail of who you are, what you are about, and what you desire for yourself and your family is of infinite importance to Jesus. Nothing escapes the loving eyes of Jesus. He knows even the number of hairs on your head and when one falls to the ground! The Lord Jesus indeed cares for the whole world, but for each one of us individually.

Then when Mass is being offered, especially during the Consecration of His Body and Blood, all that you have placed on the altar is being lifted on high to the Majestic Throne of the Eternal Father who sees you, but in His beloved Son in whom He is well-pleased. To this Son He can deny nothing.

Then, even more important, receive Holy Communion into the depths of your soul. If you are well-disposed with a burning heart filled with love for the Lord Jesus there will be an explosion of graces. Your small actions will have infinite value because even your smallest of actions have been offered to the Eternal Father through the loving Heart of Jesus.

In sum, let us learn the art of sanctity. It is not so much in the greatness of the action, but in the purity of intention. However of paramount importance is learning to offer ourselves to God through the pure and Immaculate Heart of Mary and through Jesus the spotless Victim offered to God the Father in the most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

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

Tuesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

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

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15TH    Mk 8: 14-21   Alleluia Verse: “Whoever loves me will keep my word, says the Lord; and my Father will love him, and we will come to him.”

The Second Person of the Blessed Trinity became man, suffered and died on the cross that all might be saved. That is why Pope Saint Leo the Great said: “Christian, know thy dignity!” Today, Fr. Ed reminds us of what we so often forget or perhaps never knew!

THE INFINITE VALUE OF YOUR SOUL by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

Imagine discovering in your backyard a treasure of gold! Imagine being bequeathed ten diamonds, each of them worth more than a million dollars! Once again, imagine receiving an inheritance—an enormous mansion on a luxurious plot of land and it’s all yours! Finally, imagine winning the 50-million dollar lottery! Of course, on a human and natural plane we would all rejoice to the skies, and relax with the awareness that the rest of our life will be luxury, pleasure, ease and indescribable comfort.

Beyond a shadow of a doubt, those immersed in the worldly, paganistic, and materialistic mindset would long for any one of the above scenarios. Why? The whole thrust of their life is based on purely materialistic possession and gain.

Let us now flip the coin and turn in the opposite direction, and meditate upon the value, now through the eyes of God, of one soul, of one immortal soul, your own immortal soul. In all truth, your individual, personal, and unique soul, your immortal soul has much more value than all of the riches described above. In the eyes of God—the God of Life, the God of Truth, and the God of Love, your soul is worth more than the whole created universe. Saint Peter says that our soul was not redeemed or bought back by the blood of goats or heifers, nor gold or silver, but was redeemed by the Blood of Jesus! How precious and valuable are our souls—redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world! (cf 1Pt. 1:18-19) 

This being said, let us reflect together, even for a few short minutes, on the reality, importance, and grandeur of your immortal soul. The following are concrete points for your reflection, meditation, and prayer.

1. ORIGIN OF YOUR SOUL.  At one time your soul did not exist. It’s coming into existence, its origin, came from God in the precise moment of time and manner that God so willed. When? Precisely in the very moment of your conception in the womb of your mother was when your immortal soul came into existence. This existence of your soul will never cease, in time and for eternity!

2. IMMORTALITY.  It is precisely this point—IMMORTALITY! By immortal is meant quite simply this: it is destined to exist forever and ever and ever. In a real sense it is God-like because God can never cease to exist.

3. HUMAN BIRTH AND SUPERNATURAL BIRTH AND THE SOUL.  Every year with immense joy we celebrate our Birthday and the Birthdays of our loved ones. Ice-cream, cake, candles, balloons, and gifts make up the essential qualities of the celebration. Often many relatives and friends flock to celebrate the Birthday-Boy or Birthday-Girl! However, it should be recalled and celebrated with even greater joy the Spiritual Birthday of every Christian, and every Christian Catholic. Of course, we are referring to the day of our Baptism; this was our Spiritual Birthday. This was the day and moment in which our soul underwent a radical transformation, moving from the natural plane to the supernatural plane; if you like, a quantum leap!

4. THE SOUL’S RADICAL TRANSFORMATION THROUGH BAPTISM.  In the very moment that the priest/deacon baptized us pronouncing our name saying:  “(Name), I baptize you in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit”, our soul received the three Divine Guests to inhabit our soul: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit! We should strive to recall this profound and penetrating reality of our great dignity through Baptism—the profound and mysterious fact that we are truly living Temples of the Blessed Trinity! Sons and Daughters of God!

5. TARNISHING AND BLACKENING THE SOUL.  Even though the Sacrament of Baptism removes Original Sin and imbues and permeates the soul with the Blessed Trinity, due to the abuse of our freedom, it often happens that the beauty of our soul is tarnished, darkened, and even blackened by the reality of sin, and unfortunately the reality of mortal sin. Honesty before God and our own conscience demands the humble admission of falling into mortal sin and darkening, sullying, and damaging the greatest Gift that God has given to us—our immortal soul! Living in denial of sin, especially mortal sin, can be catastrophic for us in time and for all eternity.

6. CONFESSION: THE CLEANSING OF THE SOUL!  Following on the heels of the reality of mortal sin is the keen awareness of God’s greatest attribute—that of His Infinite Mercy. Pope Saint John Paul II has stated that Mercy is the second name for God’s Love. God’s Mercy is channeled through His Church, known as the Mystical Body of Christ. In concrete practice, God’s Mercy is mediated through His Sacraments. Reconciliation, Penance, Confession are various names for the Sacrament that can transform our souls from being tarnished, sullied, even blackened by the ugly stain of mortal sin into once again glorious, pure, and resplendent palaces of the Lord of Lords and King of Kings, Majestic Mansions of the dwelling place of the Blessed Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!

7. VIGILANCE: DEFEND AND PROTECT THE IMPORTANCE AND BEAUTY OF THE SOUL.  How often have we come across homes that have various levels of protection? Let us count the various protective barriers to the home: barbwire, iron gates, pointed iron bars, iron/brass doors, loud alarms, angry pit-bulls, security cameras, and even at times security guards. Given the fact that our immortal soul is worth more than the whole created universe, just one soul, then logic would tell us that we should use all the spiritual means available to protect our soul from robbers and thieves that are on the constant lookout to rob us of sanctifying grace! In all honesty, how little we do to protect our soul from mortal poison and danger, and how little we do or have done to protect our children and families from the all-intrusive thieves on the prowl to steal the precious grace in their souls. Starting now: let us be more vigilant to protect and defend our soul, and those of our families, from these prowling thieves, whose names are the devil, the flesh, and the world!

8. CALL TO MIND OUR DIGNITY AND DESTINY.  Constantly, even on a daily basis, we should remind ourselves of an essential part of Principle and Foundation—our purpose and end in life. It was Saint Thomas Aquinas who articulated this truth so clearly: your immortal soul is worth more than the whole created universe. All God’s natural creation pales in the face of the reality of one immortal soul and that is your own immortal soul! Let us frequently call to mind our dignity and our destiny. Our dignity? Sons and Daughters of God through the Sacrament of Baptism! Our destiny? To be a member of the Court of Heaven—seeing face to face the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.” (1Cor 13:12)—with Mary as our Mother and Queen, the angels our companions, and the saints our best of friends for all eternity!

9. TRUE LOVE.  Saint Thomas Aquinas defines love in these words: “Love (charity) is willing the good of the other.”  What then is the greatest good for a human person? It is the salvation of their IMMORTAL SOUL!!! If we truly love God and love what God loves, then we should love our neighbor and work ardently, constantly, fervently, incessantly for the salvation of our soul and the souls of others. Saint James states the following with respect to the salvation of a soul: “My brothers, if anyone among you should stray from the truth and someone brings him back, he should know that whoever brings back a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.” (Jas. 5: 19-20)

10. MARY AND OUR SOUL.  On a very important and concluding note, let us entrust our life, our temptations, our struggles, our desires, our aspirations, and the salvation of our immortal soul to Mary. Aside from God Himself, there is no person in the universe who cares and desires the health, protection, and salvation of our immortal soul more than the Blessed Virgin Mary. Let us pray as many Rosaries as possible and entrust the hour and moment of our death into the hands and Immaculate Heart of Mary. She will lead our soul safety to the port of salvation—the Sacred Heart of Jesus! 

Memorial of Saints Cyril, Monk, and Methodius, Bishop

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

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14TH    Mk 8: 11-13   “Jesus sighed from the depth of his spirit and said, ‘Why does this generation seek a sign?”

Do we test Jesus? Do we need a sign from Him before we will believe in Him and trust Him? Or do we have blind faith, meaning that no matter what happens we trust He is working for our good and the good of our loved ones? Today, Fr. Ed gives us short prayers of Faith and Trust in Jesus! As we pray, so shall we believe! Which short prayers speak most to you right now?

JESUS: THE CENTER OF MY LIFE! By Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

Jesus Christ is the center of all human history, the alpha and the omega, the principle and foundation, the beginning and the end, the key that unlocks eternal life to all who believe and place their trust in Him. By His Incarnation, life, death, and Resurrection, Jesus has divided history into two blocks of time: B.C. and A.D. Never has any other person come onto the stage of human history and had such a huge impact. And He did this all in no more than 33 years.

The following exposition in its essence is a prayer to Jesus. The short prayer expressions or prayer gems are taken from Sacred Scripture, most of them from the texts of the Gospels. If you like, these are Christological titles transformed into short prayers. It is our intention and desire that you will very slowly pray over these titles in imitation of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, who pondered the Word of God in her Immaculate Heart.

CHRISTOLOGICAL TITLES TRANSFORMED INTO PRAYER…

Titles for Jesus are many and rich indeed!  Let us learn to pray, to really talk to Jesus through the many and various titles inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Jesus, you are The Bread of Life, give me a growing hunger and insatiable thirst for you. (Jn 6:25-59)

Jesus, you are The Good Shepherd, grant me the deep inner security that I am never really alone because you are walking next to me, by my side, and you are guiding me by your rod and your staff. (Psalm 23/Jn 10:1-18)

Jesus, you are truly The Resurrection and The Life, attain for me an ardent yearning to live with you for all eternity in heaven. (Jn 11:1-44)

Jesus, your name means Savior, I beg you to stretch out your gentle but strong hand to save me. Lord Jesus, save me from doubt, from my inner fears and anxieties, from my lack of trust in your Divine Providence. Lord Jesus, in the midst of the storms of life, when it seems as if my life is on the verge of capsizing and sinking, descend upon me with your calm. Lead me to a safe haven. (Mt 14:22-33)

Jesus you are truly The Divine Physician, The Divine Doctor, I implore you to touch me with your hand and heal me. (Mt Chapters 8 and 9) Lord Jesus, I admit my infirmities. Heal my mind with your light. Heal my soul with your grace. Heal my memory with your peace. Heal my body with your strength.

Jesus, you are the best of all Teachers. (Jn. 20:16) As I sit before you, I beg for your light, for you to truly become my Teacher! I thank you for the Gospels, (Good News) in which I can sit at your feet and absorb and drink in your Words of Truth.

Jesus, you are The Way, the Truth, and the Life. Pave the Way for me on the highway to heaven. Inundate me in the rays of your Truth. Attain for me eternal Life in heaven. (Jn 14:6)

Jesus, you are The Alpha and Omega, The Principle and Foundation of my life. Attain for me fullness of life by having you at the very center of my life—of all my thoughts, words, decisions, and actions. (Rev 22:13)

Jesus, you said: I am the Light of the world. Cast out the dark regions present in my mind, memory, understanding, even in my most secret intentions! Shine on me and in me, so that your Presence in my life may enlighten many others. (Jn 8:12)

Jesus, you are truly The Logos—The Word of God issuing forth from the Eternal Father. May your Words be engraved deeply in my whole being so that I will be a living expression of your truth in the world. (Jn 1:1)

Jesus, you are Emmanuel—God with us! In this journey of life heading toward our eternal destiny—heaven—may I constantly be aware of your gentle and consoling presence. May my prayer be that of the disciples on the road to Emmaus: Stay with us, Lord, for the day is far spent. (Lk 24:29)

Jesus, you are The Christ-Messiah, The Anointed One. Through Baptism and Confirmation, I have received a double-anointing. I implore you to anoint my thoughts and words so that I will be an anointed presence for my brothers and sisters. (1Jn 5:1-2)

Jesus, you indeed are The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. By your Precious Blood, that I receive through the Sacraments of Confession and Communion, may I be cleansed and purified of all my past sins and strengthened to live in the liberty of the sons and daughters of God. (Jn 1:29)

Jesus, you are The Healing Hand that saves. Stretch out your hand to touch my festering wounds and heal me, and all of suffering humanity. (Mt 8:1-4)

Jesus, you are The Wounded-Healer. Indeed, it is by your wounds that we are healed. May I seek refuge in your wounds, especially your wounded Sacred Heart! Indeed, this is my true and eternal refuge. (Is 53:5)

Jesus, you are The Friend who is always faithful. May I experience you as a true Friend, always willing to walk with me, talk with me, welcome me, and be present to me. You indeed are my true Friend who will never fail me. (Jn 15:15)

Jesus, you are The Son of God made man. I am eternally grateful to you for becoming like us in all things, except sin. I praise and thank you for assuming your humanity from the Blessed Virgin Mary. (Lk 1:26-35)

Jesus, you are The King of Kings and The Lord of Lords. As such I adore you and pay you homage as King. Jesus, as King I beg you to reign over my whole being. Reign over my mind, my thoughts, my imagination, my feelings, my intentions, my actions, my body and soul in time and for all eternity. (Rev 19:16)

Jesus, you indeed are The Crucified Savior. May my love and devotion to you result in my crucifying and putting to death all that is in me that is unworthy of you—that is to say, sin and all of its negative effects. We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. (Mt 27:32-56)

Jesus, your Most Sacred Heart is a burning furnace of charity. Set my heart on fire with love for you and love for souls. You said: I have come to cast fire on the earth and I am not at peace until that fire be enkindled. Lord Jesus, give me that fire! (Lk 12:49)

Jesus, you are the Son of God, the Son of man, and the Son of Mary! Through the intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, your loving Mother, may I arrive at a deeper knowledge of you, a deeper understanding of you, a deeper love for you, and a more earnest yearning and longing to follow you all the days of my life! Jesus, Son of the Blessed Virgin Mary, may you be the very center of my life, now and for all eternity. Amen. (Mk 6:3)

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