Tuesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

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

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8TH    Mk 7:1-13   “This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts.”

With the help of Fr. Ed, these are the words of Jesus that we will meditate upon today: “their hearts are far from me”…   

FRIENDSHIP WITH CHRIST JESUS by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

When I arrived in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1986 shortly after my ordination at the hands of Pope Saint John Paul II, I was contemplating a compelling portrait of Jesus. It was an image of His Sacred Heart, with flames of fire radiating from His Heart. However, what seemed to really captivate me most in the moment, were six words in Spanish that have been almost a motto of my life as a Catholic, Religious and priest, and follower of Christ. These words were: “Jesus, el Amigo que nunca falla.” Translation: “Jesus, the Friend that never fails!”

Christological names are many:  The Good Shepherd, the Bread of Life, The Way, Truth, and Life, the Alpha and Omega, Lord, God, Savior, Redeemer, as well as Lamb of God, Son of man and Son of God. Each of these names, like a precious diamond exposed to the sun, through a process called refraction reflects a different glimmer of the majesty, beauty and greatness of Jesus, the Son of the living God!

However, there is still another title that has captivated me for many years and hopefully will captivate your heart, and it is Jesus, Friend.

On Holy Thursday, as Jesus sat at the Last Supper about to give to all of humanity until the end of time two extraordinary gifts—we call them Sacraments—Holy Orders and the Most Holy Eucharist, He also called the Apostles and us by a special name: I call you friends! In this most important moment in His life, shortly before being crucified for love of you and me, Jesus called the Apostles, and us, His intimate Friends.

Our Catholic-Christian religion has rules, precepts, orders, prohibitions, decrees and commands, this we cannot deny. The Ten Commandments are part and parcel of our deposit of faith.  Nonetheless, if we limit our Catholic faith to nothing more than a series of rules, precepts, and mere Commandments to obey, then we have missed the boat, missed the mark, focused on something very important, but not the most important and essential Truth.

The essence of Catholicism is a love-affair. It is a deep, dynamic, and growing relationship with three Divine Persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

The second Person of the most Blessed Trinity is Jesus, the Son of God become man. He came into the world to save us. But also, Jesus came into the world to establish a deep, dynamic, and permanent friendship with us.

The Bible says that to find a true friend indeed is a treasure. We might even call it the pearl of infinite price that we should be willing to give up everything else to acquire. Of all the friends who could exist in this world, friendship with Jesus is by far the best! He is the Friend, in the painting of the Sacred Heart, who will never fail us in time and for all eternity. Even the best of friends are destined to fail each other sooner or later. But Jesus will never fail us. We indeed fail Him, but He will never fail us, never!

For this reason, one of the best motivations for us to strive energetically to observe the Ten Commandments is for the simple reason of desiring to establish, cultivate and grow in a dynamic Friendship with Jesus.

Thus Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen coined one of the best definitions of sin on the market: “Sin is hurting the one you love.” True, sin is breaking one of the Commandments. However, above and beyond the breaking of one of the Ten Commandments, by sinning seriously we are breaking the Heart of God, a God who has loved us and stills loves us so much that He died on the cross to prove His love and Friendship for all of humanity, but also for you and for me individually.

If you were the only person in the whole created universe, your Faithful Friend, Jesus, would have come into the world, preached, taught, exorcised demons, and especially this: He would have suffered all of the torments of His Passion, from His Agony in the Garden, through His crucifixion, up to the shedding of His last drop of Blood when the lance pierced His Sacred Heart, for love of you. All of this Jesus, your best Friend, willingly suffered for love of you so that He would be your Best Friend in time and for all eternity.

Therefore, when we examine our conscience going through the Ten Commandments, why don’t we take a fresh and new approach in preparation for Confession. And it is simply this! Recognize that your sins, in addition to the breaking of the Commandments, is especially hurting the One who loves you and the One who wants to be loved by you!

Sin is saying “no” to the love of Jesus who is madly in love with you and has a burning desire for you to correspond with that love. Still more, by sinning, I am breaking the Heart of my Best Friend. By making a good confession, I am healing Jesus’ wounded Sacred Heart and restoring the best of Friendships which will not end at the graveside, but will last forever in eternity in heaven.

Therefore, by saying “no” to sin, I am really saying “yes” to the love of God, “yes” to a deep and growing Friendship with Jesus.

Face it, if sinning is simply breaking a set of cold and impersonal rules, then chances are we will go back to sinning. However, if we see sin in a personal light, hurting my best friend, wounding His Sacred Heart, then I will stop, think, and renounce the temptation to sin.

May Our Lady and good Saint Joseph pray for us! They were the ones who loved Jesus best, had the deepest friendship with Him on earth, and now for all eternity they will be His best of friends.

Let us pray:  

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I give you my heart and my soul.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, make my heart like yours.

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.

Jesus, be my best Friend now, tomorrow, and for all eternity!

Monday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

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

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 7TH    Mk 6:51-56   “Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak and as many as touched it were healed.”

As baptized Catholic Christians, we are called to heal through the Common-priesthood of the faithful.

Let us take a moment and review the difference between the Common-priesthood of the faithful and the Ministerial Priesthood of the priest. With the Sacrament of Holy Orders the priest undergoes an ontological transformation (a change in his very being) and receives an indelible priestly character on his soul. We have two indelible marks on our soul from Baptism and Confirmation. The priest has three indelible marks on his soul from Baptism, Confirmation, and Ordination or Holy Orders.

That being said, it is incumbent upon us to live out to the fullest extent possible the Common-priesthood of the faithful that flows from the Sacrament of Baptism—one of those functions being healing. As such, we are ambassadors of Christ—other Christs, if you will. And for some, we may be the only “Christ” they will ever encounter!

Today Fr. Ed shows us one way we can heal, and it is through use of our speech. Our words can either build up or tear down. Let us use this meditation as an examination of conscience.  

BUILDING UP WITH WORDS by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

All of us can remember having been hurt by somebody speaking without thinking and stinging our heart, leaving a lasting bad memory. Also, all of us remember having opened up our mouth without sufficient reflection and wounding our brother, sister or friend! Immediately after the word slipped out of our mouth, we wanted to fish it back in, but no, too late! Once the word has been uttered, there is no “muting”, cancelling or postponing its arrival to the ear and heart of the listener.

Jesus speaks very clearly about our words: “Every word that comes out of the mouth will be subject to judgment.” (Mt 12:36) St. James dedicates almost an entire chapter (Chapter 3) to the sins of the tongue. In short, the Apostle underscores the importance of learning the art of speech, reminding us that we should be slow to speak and quick to listen. He reminds us that man can control almost all types of animals, but not the tongue. Moreover, He says that the same tongue that is used to praise God ends up by cursing one’s neighbor. This is wrong!  

Therefore, we would like to offer five short suggestions to help us utilize our tongue, our speech, our words, our conversation as a means to truly edify our neighbor—that means, to build up our neighbor!

FIRST COUNSEL.  We should make it a habit to first talk to God and then talk to our neighbor. It was said of the great St. Dominic, founder of the Order of Preachers (among which were St. Albert the Great, and his student, St. Thomas Aquinas) that he would first talk to God and then talk about God to others! Superb! Ideally that should be our motto and objective in life with regard to speech—that our words would in some way be communicating the presence of God to others!

SECOND COUNSEL.  Think before you speak! St. Ignatius observes that a soul that is agitated is a soul in the state of desolation; in this state, it is not the good spirit who is guiding us but the bad spirit! Therefore, this is the time to refrain from speaking. Speak only after reflection and the return of a calm and peaceful mind! Rushed and impetuous words from unclear thinking will only cause confusion and hurt. Avoid it!

THIRD COUNSEL.  SILENCE! Pope Benedict XVI insisted on the capital importance of cultivating silence in our daily lives! Today we suffer from noise pollution! Radio talk-shows, pop music, non-stop TV programs, dogs barking into the late hours of the night. Add to that non-stop useless chatter, often filled with gossip. All of us have experienced these scenarios and all too frequently! Benedict XVI went so far as to say that if we do not have times of silence, then we really cannot understand the person who wants to talk to us! Silence creates an interior space for listening, listening disposes us for union with the Holy Spirit, and finally, the Holy Spirit teaches us to pray and then listen attentively and charitably to our brothers and sisters!

FOURTH COUNSEL.  A Biblical counsel of great importance: THE GOLDEN RULE! The “Golden Rule” enunciated by Jesus Himself is very simple and everybody in the world understands it: “Do unto others what you want them to do to you.” (Lk 6:31) Why not take the Golden Rule one more step and apply it specifically to our speech. That is, “Do unto others what you want them to do to you,” but most especially, “SAY to others what you would want them to say to you!” Try it out!

FIFTH COUNSEL.  At times it is not clear if what we are saying is harmful to others or beneficial; it is not always clear! What could be of great help in this matter is to imagine that during the time of your conversation—your choice of words, tone of voice, and even your facial expression—three very important persons are standing by and observing this. Those three persons are Jesus, Mary and St. Joseph. Now ask yourself this question: “If Jesus, Mary, and St. Joseph were present during this conversation and listening to my words, would they be nodding a smile of approval?” This is the acid test for followers of Jesus! Are our words pleasing in the sight of Jesus, His Holy Mother, and good St. Joseph—who never said a single word in all of Sacred Scripture!

CONCLUSION.  Jesus says that from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Jesus also warned us that we will be judged on every word that comes out of our mouth. For this reason, St. James warns us to be slow to speak and quick to listen.

In the Diary of St. Faustina, she admitted that her three primary faults were the following. First, pride in not being open with her Superior, Irene. Second, TALKING TOO MUCH!  She admitted honestly that Jesus revealed to her that at times He preferred her to be silent rather than speak for two reasons: the person would not profit from her words, and it would be much more beneficial for the souls in Purgatory to have her prayers in those moments. Finally, she did not always observe the Rule faithfully.

Let us remember the challenging exhortation of the Franciscan Doctor of the Church, St. Bonaventure: “We should open our mouths on three occasions: to praise God, to accuse ourselves, and to edify our neighbor.” Faithful to this exhortation, we will surely avoid many slips of the tongue, the Holy Spirit will anoint our words, and we will store up for ourselves an eternal inheritance in heaven!

May Our Lady, who pondered in her Immaculate Heart before speaking, teach us to magnify the Lord in our words and to truly edify our neighbor! “My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” (Lk 1:46-47)

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

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 6TH    Lk 5:1-11   “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catchers of men.”

These words are meant for us—for you and for me! Let us beg for the grace of Apostolic Zeal for the salvation of immortal souls for all eternity!

Where are we called to be missionaries? Starting in our own family, for charity begins at home, on our street, in our city, in our country, then in the whole world! The answer will be different for each one of us, but we are all called by Baptism and confirmed by the Gifts of the Holy Spirit in Confirmation—to spread and defend the Faith!

Here is how one saint spread the word of God. Let each one of us pray and think about how we can set souls on fire with the love of Christ!

TEN LESSONS IN EVANGELIZATION FROM ST. FRANCIS XAVIER by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

Before St. Francis Xavier set out on his great mission, St. Ignatius spoke these final words to him: Go set all on fire! Francis embarked for India, then to Japan, and died on the shore overlooking China. His missionary work was completed in only 11 years because he died of exhaustion at 46 years of age.

Like Francis Xavier, all followers of Christ are called to be prophets, evangelizers, and missionaries. Followers of Christ must strive to encounter Christ as Friend and Lord and then share Jesus with others. It is a contradiction in terms to keep the priceless treasure of Friendship with Jesus to oneself. St. Andrew teaches us this lesson. After being called by Jesus, Andrew, filled with joy, hurries to tell the Good News (“Gospel”) to his brother Peter.

How did St. Francis Xavier, in such a short time, convert, baptize, and teach the Catholic faith to countless souls? What was his secret to success?

1. SPIRITUAL EXERCISES  

His conversion came about by completing the Spiritual Exercises under the direction of St. Ignatius of Loyola himself. Ignatius challenged Xavier with the Biblical quotation: “What would it profit a man to gain the whole world if he lose his soul in the process?” (Mt 16:26) The Spiritual Exercises, done well, enlighten, convert, and transform souls into fiery apostles.

2. OBEDIENCE

The Holy Father asked Ignatius to send some of his followers from the Order of Jesus (the Jesuits) to India and the Far East. He asked two to go, but both got sick. St. Ignatius asked his secretary and best friend, Francis Xavier and he obeyed. Obedience to God, the Pope, and the Church is always a true sign of holiness by which God blesses us with abundant graces. “Lord, not my will but yours be done!” (Lk 22:42)  Prayer of Jesus to the Father in the Garden of Olives.

3. LOVE FOR POVERTY

Upon arriving in India, Xavier’s heart overflowed with love for the poor of the country. His love knew no bounds. Instead of seeking out comfortable lodgings and ease, Xavier decided to live with the poor, sleep like the poor, eat and drink with the poor, and become poor himself. Jesus’s first Beatitude exemplifies this attitude of heart: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt 5:3)

4. LOVE FOR GOD’S CHILDREN

Jesus taught love for children. “Let the children come to me for such is the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt 19:14)

5. APOSTOLIC CREATIVITY  

St. Francis Xavier was a genius, especially as a teacher and missionary. As a tool for memorization of the catechism, Xavier made use of song. In simple verse and rhyme, Francis taught the children the basics of catechism.

The children then would return home and sing the catechism, thereby teaching their own parents. Pope Saint John Paul II exhorted followers of Christ to be open to the Holy Spirit and apostolic creativity. Jesus said to Nicodemus that the spirit blows where He wills. Like Xavier, let us be open to the direction of the Holy Spirit and follow where He wills!

6. BAPTISM  

It all starts with the Sacrament of Baptism. After instructions, Francis Xavier would baptize by the thousands! He baptized so many that sometimes, at the end of the day, he could no longer hold up his arm.

7. ORDERING THE DISORDER

This great saint, after finishing his time in one place, would leave well-formed catechists to carry on with the mission of forming the people in the community. Now, more than ever, zealous priests need zealous lay leaders to help to carry on the task of evangelization. “The harvest is rich but the laborers are few.” (Mt 9:37)

8. INCULTURATION

While traveling to Japan, St. Francis Xavier had to learn the social mores and customs of another country. In this case, seeing someone dressed in rags caused revulsion to the Emperor. As St. Paul says, “I become all things to all men so as to win as many to Christ as possible.” (1 Cor 9:22) Xavier donned the most elegant and fashionable clothes and gave gifts to the Emperor, thereby winning the Emperor’s friendship and opening up the door to the preaching of the Gospel message.

9. PRAYER & PENANCE

It is impossible to find a saint who did not take the “two P’s” seriously: prayer and penance! At the end of his exhausting day, St. Francis Xavier spent hours in front of the Most Blessed Sacrament, praising the Lord, thanking the Lord, and imploring for the sanctification and salvation of the people God placed in his path. The consolation that God sent Francis Xavier during his prayers was so intense that the saint begged the Lord “basta” — “enough” of the consolation, lest he die of its intensity!

May St. Francis Xavier attain for us the fire of intensity in our prayers!

How did the saint practice penance? One way: he slept very little, so as to accompany the Lord and offer himself as victim for the salvation of souls. We, on the other hand, must talk with our Confessor or Spiritual Director before undertaking any form of penance, lest our zeal outreach our grace and ability.

10. APOSTOLIC ZEAL

A favorite prayer of St. Francis Xavier was, “Give me souls!” Another saint who had a similar motto was St. John Bosco, whose motto was posted on the wall of his office: “Give me souls and take all the rest away.” St. John of the Cross asserts: “Authentic charity is manifested by apostolic zeal.”

Indeed, if we truly love God then we should love what God loves—the salvation of immortal souls. In the Office of Readings for the Feast of St. Francis Xavier, in a letter written to St. Ignatius, there is a passionate appeal for more workers to gather in the harvest, specifically reproaching the proud and learned at the universities. The words of Xavier explode with apostolic zeal and intense suffering for the salvation of immortal souls.   

Let us meditate attentively the words of St. Francis Xavier:

“Many, many people hereabouts are not becoming Christians for one reason: there is nobody to make them Christians. Again and again I have thought of going round the universities of Europe, especially Paris, and everywhere crying out like a madman. Riveting the attention of those with more learning than charity. What a tragedy: how many souls are being shut out of heaven and falling into hell, thanks to you! I wish they would work as hard at this as they do at their books, and so settle their account with God for their learning and the talents entrusted to them.” (Office of Readings, Dec. 3, Feast of St. Francis Xavier)

St. Francis Xavier, pray for us and share with us your apostolic fire and zeal for the salvation of immortal souls for all eternity!

Memorial of Saint Agatha, Virgin and Martyr

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

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5TH    Mk 6:30-34   Alleluia Verse: “My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.”

Following Jesus, the Good Shepherd, inevitably leads us to the cross. Yesterday, Fr. Ed called us to meditate on sanctifying our sufferings by uniting them with the sufferings and death of Jesus on the cross through the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

Today, Fr. Ed enlightens and encourages us with positive fruits of suffering. On this day dedicated to her, we ask Mary Immaculate, Jesus’ first and most faithful follower and disciple, to assist us in our meditation!

PART ONE: The Immaculate and Suffering by St. Maximilian Kolbe (excerpt)

PART TWO: POSITIVE FRUITS OF SUFFERING by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

The Immaculate and Suffering by St. Maximilian Kolbe… (excerpt)

Sometimes, we may feel almost overwhelmed by all sorts of difficulties, temptations, misfortunes. However, if the roots keep growing deeper into the earth and humility is rooted deeply in us, to make us rely every day less on ourselves alone, then, through the Immaculate, whatever happens shall only mean for us a growth in merits. Still, ordeals are necessary, and they shall certainly cross our path, since the gold of love must be purified in the fire of affliction. In fact, suffering is the nourishment that strengthens love.

POSITIVE FRUITS OF SUFFERING by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

Suffering has positive value only inasmuch as it is united to Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in His life, Passion, death, and Resurrection. If not, much of our suffering is wasted and we become a bitter person rather than a better person!

The purpose of this article is to highlight a list of positive fruits that flow from the person who has united their suffering to the cross of Jesus, as well as the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, where Jesus renews on a daily basis His passion and death through the Sacrament of all Sacraments—the most Holy Eucharist! The following is a list to encourage us to carry our cross more courageously, following in the footsteps of Jesus and His friends, the saints. With Saint Francis of Assisi, we acclaim: “We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.”

1. UNION WITH AND IMITATION OF CHRIST.  The name Christian means follower or disciple of Christ. By suffering with courage we are united more with Jesus our Savior; we become more like Him and we imitate Him all the more closely.

2. PRAYER GROWTH.  In crucial moments of intense suffering, the true followers of Christ pray all the more fervently in imitation of Jesus Himself in the Garden—He prayed all the more fervently, to the point of shedding huge drops of blood. And it is so true that if we deepen our prayer life, we unite ourselves more to Christ and become living sacrifices pleasing to God the Father.

3. HUMILITY.  Confronted with excruciating sufferings—physical, psychological, emotional, moral, social or family related, etc.—we find ourselves helpless and like a little child totally dependent upon the care, protection, and love of the Eternal Father and His Divine Providence. Humility really means not depending upon myself and my limited human resources, but depending upon God. “Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 124:8) And, “The Lord is my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall lack.” (Psalm 23)

4. TRUST.  One of the modern spiritual classics is the Diary of Saint Faustina, Divine Mercy in My Soul. This great modern saint suffered intensely, but the more she suffered, the more she trusted in God for her strength and support. So it must be with us; suffering should motivate us to trust in God all the more as our Eternal Rock on which we can stand in navigating through the storms of life.

5. PATIENCE.  The nature of all suffering is that it takes a toll on us and forces us to practice the virtue of patience—remember the Book of Job. Maybe God Himself has sent us certain sufferings as a means by which we can grow in that all important virtue of PATIENCE! Looking in retrospect on past sufferings that we have more or less accepted, we can attest to the fact that we are at least a little more patient in imitation of Jesus, Mary, and the saints. Jesus said: “By your patience you will save your souls.” (Lk 21:19)

6. COMPASSION.  Still more, the virtue of compassion can be a recompense and prize for those who are undergoing the fire and storm of tribulations and sufferings. A classic example might be a woman who has survived breast cancer and is now healthy and thriving. This woman providentially meets another woman who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. The woman who has survived the ordeal can definitely commiserate and have compassion for the woman just diagnosed. Why? For the simple reason that she went through it herself! Those who suffer in a Christian way, who humbly accept the suffering from Christ and joined to Christ, have the capacity to be compassionate with others who are going through the same predicament. Actually the word Compassion means the ability to suffer with another.

7. PURIFICATION.  As gold is purified by fire, so are the friends of the Lord purified by the trial of sufferings. Saint John of the Cross gives us the image of a piece of cold and rusty iron cast into the fire. In time, the cold and rusty piece of iron turns red hot, assuming the same degree of intense heat as the fire, and the rust disintegrates. So it is with human souls cloaked with sin and sinful tendencies. The willing acceptance of suffering for the love of Christ and in union with Christ, who suffered and died for all of humanity and all of us individually, can be a means of purifying our soul. Indeed, it must be said: we can beg the Lord to give us our Purgatory here on earth, so that we can have quicker access to heaven when we die!

8. DETACHMENT.  The human person, due to Original Sin, has a strong tendency to attach themself to persons, places, things, ideas, concepts, etc. Many of these attachments are disordered to the point of even being sinful. The storm blast of suffering can shatter these attachments. For example, if someone has been diagnosed with cancer and given six months to live, they can start to unpack their life, give things away to others, relinquish what is not really essential and necessary, and prepare themself for death, judgment, and the life to come—Heaven! Indeed, suffering can serve as a sober but very real meditation on the transitory and fleeting nature of human life! “Vanity of vanity, all is vanity” (Eccl 1:1-2) if not based on God!

9. SALVATION OF SOULS.  The children of Fatima were educated in the school of suffering, especially Jacinta and Francisco Marto—both died about two years after the last apparition of Our Lady of Fatima in October 13, 1917. After the graphic vision of hell, July 13, 1917, little Jacinta could not undertake enough sacrifices, offering her sufferings for the salvation of immortal souls! Sacrificing her favorite food—the sweet grapes of Portugal, giving up water on hot days, putting up with the painful insistence of people pestering her with questions, wearing a rough rope around her waist; Jacinta did all of these so as to collaborate with God in the salvation of immortal souls. In other words, her sufferings had infinite value because she suffered them for and with Jesus, with Our Blessed Mother always at her side. When beatified by Pope Saint John Paul II he gave her the title of little victim soul—such was her thirst for the salvation of immortal souls and her willingness to suffer for them with Jesus!

10. SHORTNESS OF LIFE AND ETERNITY.  Finally, in our analysis of the positive meaning of suffering, we have to come to terms with our mortality—that all of us one day have to pass through the door of death and this often entails suffering. However, life is very short as the Psalmist reminds us: “Man is like the flower of the field that rises in the morning and withers and dies as the sun goes down.” (Ps 103:115-16) Jesus said these words to Saint Faustina in her Diary, Divine Mercy in My Soul: “You will go back to earth and there you will suffer much, but not for long; you will accomplish my will and my desires and a faithful servant of Mine will help you do this. Now rest on My bosom, on My heart, and draw from it strength and power for these sufferings because you will find neither relief nor help nor comfort anywhere else. Know that you will have much, much to suffer, but don’t let this frighten you; I am with you.” (Diary # 36) These words of Jesus are serious, sober, but also consoling. He will always be with us and invites all of us to seek refuge and comfort, not in the things of this passing world, but to seek refuge in His bosom, seek comfort in His Most Sacred Heart. 

May Our Lady of Sorrows console us all with her loving and maternal presence! She will always be present with Jesus to help us to carry our cross patiently so as to win the reward in heaven that awaits us!

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

Friday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

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

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4th    Mk 6:14-29 “He promptly dispatched an executioner with orders to bring back his head. He went off and beheaded him in the prison.”

• Upon the order of Herod, John the Baptist was beheaded for upholding the Truth, and through his martyrdom became Saint John the Baptist.

SANCTIFYING SUFFERING IN UNION WITH CHRIST

When confronted with the reality of suffering most of us cringe, recoil, or even run away from it. We want to flee to some special corner where we believe that we will be exempt from the reality of suffering. However, this is not possible. Whether we like it or not, suffering is an inevitable part of the human condition—our fallen condition as a result of Original Sin.

Confronted with this sober reality of suffering, we should come to terms with the reality that suffering will make us either “better or bitter”. Of all the world religions, Catholicism is the only religion that gives a positive and clear response to the stark reality of suffering. Suffering by its nature is neither good nor bad—it is neutral—rather it depends largely on how the individual interprets it and lives through it.

Means by Which We Can Sanctify Our Own Personal Suffering

Truly the only positive means by which we can sanctify our suffering is by uniting our suffering with the life and sufferings of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Jesus could have saved the world in many ways, but He chose to save the world by His Incarnation, life, teaching, miracles, but especially through the suffering that He willed to endure for all of us. This suffering of Jesus was most clearly manifest on Good Friday when He was condemned to death, carried His cross, was crucified and hung for three long hours on the cross for our salvation. He also taught us the meaning of suffering and the way to suffer by His own suffering.

It is up to us not to waste our suffering by complaining and running away from the suffering. Rather, it is up to us to unite our suffering to the sufferings of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, especially in His most sorrowful passion.

1. Recognize Our Suffering in its Various Shapes and Forms

It is incumbent upon us to recognize the various kinds of sufferings that God may send us. Also, it is key to recognize that many of the sufferings that we undergo are sent by God, as we read in the Book of Job who was afflicted by many shapes and forms of suffering.

What might be the different forms of suffering? Indeed, there are many! Physical suffering is the most obvious. Our body suffers in one form or another: headache, toothache, back pain, heart attack, operations and recovery, etc.

Social suffering—the society and its environs cause us to suffer. The society and culture seem to be distancing themselves from God and all morality; due to this we suffer.

Family suffering—a family member, possibly very close to us, has made wrong decisions and is following a wrong path. We would like to direct them on the right path, but they refuse to listen. We suffer!

Emotional suffering—fears, worries, anxieties, sorrows, uncertainties about the future, sadness due to many circumstances. This interior state causes us great suffering!

Spiritual suffering—despite my good efforts, it seems is if God is distant, that He does not recognize me or really care for me. Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta spent more than 40 years in this state of spiritual darkness! The mystics call this The Dark Night of the soul.

All of the above are various ways in which we are prone to suffer. We may suffer in one or more of the ways listed above or in even more ways than the ones listed. Now the key element is to be aware of our suffering in these various areas and then unite our sufferings to the Lord Jesus Christ in His sufferings. By means of this union with Christ, we sanctify ourselves, we sanctify our family, we sanctify the Church—the Mystical Body of Christ, and we sanctify the world at large. For this reason, St. Therese of Lisieux, known as “The Little Flower”, asserted: “When we do evil the whole world is lowered; when we do good we lift the whole world closer to heaven.”

2. Union With Christ’s Passion, Death and Resurrection in Holy Mass

Let us take one more huge step in understanding our union with the Passion, suffering, and death of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Indeed, Jesus died more than 2000 years ago. However, He promised us union with His passion, death and resurrection in Holy Mass!

He promised: “I will be with you always, even until the end of time.” (Mt 28:20) Where is He? In His Church which has as one of its most glorious titles—The Mystical Body of Christ. Most especially, Jesus is present in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Every time an ordained priest celebrates and offers Holy Mass, Jesus is truly present in the moment of consecration under the appearance of bread and wine. Jesus becomes the spotless Victim, the Lamb of God and Savior of the world in Mass. What happened on Mount Calvary more than 2000 years ago, right now becomes once again present. Jesus in the Mass offers Himself—His Body, Blood Soul and Divinity—to the eternal Father for our salvation.

3. The Key that Opens Up the Reservoir of Graces in Our Suffering

Now the key to raining down a deluge of graces on ourselves in our suffering is the following: uniting our personal sufferings to Jesus, the Victim in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. In other words, place your headache or more serious physical ailment, conflict with your husband or wife, your emotional disturbances, your own dark night, on the paten in the Mass. Then when the priest, who represents Christ, consecrates the host and the wine in the Chalice into the Body and Blood of Christ, your sufferings are elevated on high for your sanctification, as well as for the sanctification of all those for whom you pray, and for the whole world!

4. One More Step to Make Our Sufferings More Efficacious

Still another step is essential to make our sufferings all the more efficacious. It is this: reception of Holy Communion. It is important to participate in Mass and the consecration; however, it is much more complete if we receive the fruit of consecration which is Holy Communion—the Body, Blood Soul, and Divinity of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

Upon receiving Jesus with faith, fervor, love and devotion our sufferings are sanctified to the max, and even more, Jesus gives us the grace, the peace, and the strength to carry our cross, and He will even alleviate the pain. Listen to His most consoling words: “Come to me, all 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 your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Mt 11: 28-30)

5. Start Now: Sanctify Your Daily Crosses and Sufferings

So why not start now. Remember those key words: OFFER IT UP. Pray your morning offering and give all to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Then when visited by suffering—be it physical, moral, psychological, emotional, social, family, etc.—unite it to Jesus on the cross in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Then your sufferings will take on infinite value because they are united with Jesus’ own sufferings, and Jesus is both man and God!

May Our Lady who suffered beneath the cross, Our Lady of Sorrows, attain for us the grace not to waste our sufferings, but to sanctify them by uniting our own sufferings with the Passion, death and Resurrection of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ—for our salvation and the salvation of many others!