Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles 
Mass during the Day

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

WEDNESDAY, June 29th   Mt. 16: 13-19 SOLEMNITY OF SAINTS PETER AND PAUL   

“Jesus said to him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. So I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock, I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.’”

On this beautiful Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, let us check our religious Vocabulary! We should all have at least some knowledge of the basics! Fr. Ed is our instructor!

HOW IS YOUR RELIGIOUS VOCABULARY??? By Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

One of the hallmarks of the greatness of Saint Thomas Aquinas, the Angelic Doctor and quite possibly the greatest Theologian in the Catholic Church, is his great clarity and precision in defining theological, spiritual, and Biblical concepts. Aquinas makes sure that one understands the concept before going into detail in explaining it.

SPECIFIC VOCABULARY FOR SPECIFIC DISCIPLINES. Every area of discipline, be it academic, music, sports, art, culinary, natural sciences, whatever, has its specific vocabulary.  Having played Baseball, I know from experience that there truly is Baseball-lingo, or vocabulary specific to Baseball. These words: Balk, Bunt, suicide-squeeze, Pop-fly, Extra-innings, Reliever, double-play, triple-play, Foul-pole. Anyone cognizant of the sport of Baseball understands the use of these words. However, for those never exposed to Baseball, these words seem like a foreign language, to say the least.

THEOLOGICAL DISCIPLINE AND LANGUAGE. This concept of vocabulary can be applied to Theology and the branches of Theology. Therefore, we would like to offer you a short explanation of these words, mostly related to theology, and a brief motivation so as to grow in your spiritual journey to heaven. Off we go!

1. THEOLOGY. Put simply, this word means “The Study of God.” Of all the human pursuits in the realm of study, Academia, acquiring knowledge, Saint Thomas states that “Theology is the Queen of all the studies.” May we have a hunger and thirst for God as the ultimate source and meaning for our existence.

2. PHILOSOPHY. The Scholastics, the theologians who lived at the time of Saint Thomas Aquinas (13th Century), stated that “Philosophy is the handmaid of theology.” The two complement each other, like hand in glove. The word Philosophy actually means, “The study of Wisdom”.  May Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom, help us to pursue true wisdom—always related to God and our eternal salvation.

3. BIBLICAL THEOLOGY. The ultimate source of truth is the Bible. From Greek, Bible actually means Books—the Bible is a library of books that teach us about God. And a good definition of the Bible is the following: “The Bible is the Word of God.” Encouraged by the Psalms, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” (Ps. 119:105), may the Bible be a light for our path that leads us to heaven.

4. GOSPEL. There are four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The Word actually means Good News. When we stand to hear the Gospel every Sunday, we are standing to hear the Good News, and this should fill our hearts with joy.

5. PATRISTICS. This important branch of Theology teaches about “The Fathers of the Church”. There are the Western (Latin) Fathers of the Church, and the Eastern Fathers of the Church. The most renowned of the Western Fathers would be St. Ambrose, St. Augustine, St. Jerome, and St. Gregory the Great. Whereas, the most renowned of the Eastern are the following: St. Athanasius, St. John Chrysostom, St. Peter Chrysologus, St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory of Nicea and St. Gregory of Nacianzen. May these Fathers—both West and East—help us to arrive at a correct interpretation of the Bible, the Living Word of God!

6. ESCHATOLOGY. This branch of Theology teaches the importance of meditating upon the Last-Things: Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell, as well as Purgatory, not to exclude the concept of eternity. Lord, teach us wisdom, to count our days, as the Psalm so eloquently reminds us.

7. CATHOLIC. In our panoramic vision of theology, we must know the meaning of the Greek word—Catholic, which means: “Universal”. The Catholic Church is a family that is open to all, nobody is excluded. The door is open, but you must cross the threshold.

8. CHRISTOLOGY. This is the all-important study of Christ—meaning, “The anointed one”.  Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Reading the Gospels, we get to know the excelling riches of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

9. SOTERIOLOGY. A word not known by most Catholics, still such a word is of great importance. It means, “The Theology of Salvation”. Lord Jesus, save me!!!

10. PNEUMATOLOGY. This is a word that you probably did not use at the breakfast table this morning, but it means the study of “The Spirit, the Holy Spirit.” How important is the Holy Spirit in order for us to get to know Jesus, as in the case of the Apostles after a nine day Novena ending with Pentecost—fifty days after Easter!

11. THEOLOGY OF THE TRINITY. The most profound Mystery of the Catholic Faith is that of the Blessed Trinity—meaning, Three Persons in One God. Glory be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit!

12. MORAL THEOLOGY. Of great importance and meaning: the study of human acts. A moral person is an upright person; an immoral person, on the contrary, has chosen sin as his life-compass and direction.

13. THEOLOGICAL VIRTUES.  The term means Virtues related to God, and there are three: Faith, Hope and Charity.

14. VIRTUE/VICE. A good habit is a virtue; a bad habit is called a vice. We are called to become saints, meaning virtuous and holy followers of Christ.

15. CARDINAL VIRTUES/ MORAL VIRTUES. The word Cardinal (not simply a bird or a Baseball-player) means “Hinge-virtue”—like the hinge on a door, from which other virtues flow. There are four: Justice, Temperance, Prudence, and Fortitude.

16. SACRAMENT. From the Latin: Sacrare— to set apart as sacred, to consecrate! The classic catechetical definition of Sacrament: a sensible sign instituted by Jesus Christ, by which invisible grace and inward sanctification are communicated to the soul.”

17. ECCLESIOLOGY. A very important branch of theology meaning the Study of the Church—The Mystical Body of Christ. The Church is a community of believers united by the bond of love and grace.

18. ECUMENISM. This in a modern movement directed at fostering Christian Unity, in which one of the most important aspects would be inter-religious dialogue, striving to seek points in common and build upon these aspects of unity.

19. DOGMATIC THEOLOGY. This is the wide, expansive, all-encompassing theology of the Study of God and the articles of faith, most especially those incorporated in the Creed/ Profession of Faith recited at Mass every Sunday after the Homily.

20. CANON LAW. This would be the true and authentic compilation of the Laws of the Church. The most recent was promulgated during the Pontificate of Pope Saint John Paul II in 1983.

21. CHRISTIAN ANTHROPOLOGY. This branch of Theology studies the nature of man, the nature of the human person created in the image and likeness of God, flawed due to Original Sin, but redeemed and sanctified through the Passion, death and Resurrection of Jesus and the grace applied through the Sacraments—true channels of grace.

22. CHURCH HISTORY. This would be the systematic and ordered study of the History of the Church from its foundation on Peter, the Rock until the present day. Important is the saying: “He who does not know history is condemned to repeat the same errors.”

23. CHRISTIAN-CHURCH-ARCHITECTURE. This would be the study of the construction of the Churches throughout history and their value in the formation of the People of God. Indeed, a beautifully constructed Church can elevate the mind, the heart, and the soul to God!

24. THE THEOLOGY OF RELIGIOUS LIFE. Of those called to the total service of Christ, some are called to the Priesthood and some are called to Religious-life. Others are called to both: Religious Life and the Priesthood (as in the case of the author of this article). Religious life is designed for the individual who wants to follow Jesus radically by pursuing holiness of life and by the embracing of the vows of Chastity, Poverty, and Obedience.

25. PASTORAL THEOLOGY. The word Pastor refers to Shepherding the flock. It is a theology motivated by apostolic zeal and an ardent desire to walk and work with Jesus, the Good Shepherd, to save souls for the Kingdom of God. Saint John Bosco’s motto was: “Give me souls and take all the rest away.”

26. CHRISTIAN PSYCHOLOGY. This is the branch of Theology that studies the different temperaments, dispositions, and emotions of the individual related to God. As a result of Original Sin, human emotions must be both ordered and purified by the grace of God.

27. THEOLOGICAL AESTHETICS. This wonderful theological branch or discipline is the study of beauty related to God. Three of the principle attributes of God are His Goodness, Truth, and Beauty. Where there is one of the three, God’s veiled but Real Presence is manifest!

28. HERMENUTICS. This is the study of the manner of construction of theological formulations, indispensable to the proper interpretation of the Bible.

29. NATURAL THEOLOGY.  An all-important branch of theology in which by the study of Nature, one of God’s most eloquent books, one can arrive at the knowledge of the Creator. In a word, the beauty of creation points to the Creator Himself—God who is the essence of Beauty! Saint Thomas Aquinas offers us the five famous proofs from nature that point to the existence of God.

30. APOLOGETICS. This is a branch of theology concerned and dedicated to defending the Articles of Faith.

31. HOMILETICS. This is the theology that deals with the art of Preaching—explaining and helping the faithful to understand the Word of God, and how to put it into practice in their daily lives.

32. MISSIOLOGY. This would be the theology of missions. Jesus’ last words were: “Go out to all nations and teach them all I taught you and baptize them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and I will be with you always even until the end of time.” (Mt. 28)

33. HAGIORAPHY. This is a fascinating study of the history and lives of the saints, God’s friends, and our companions on our journey to Heaven. Let us get to know them, talk to them, imitate and love them, with the hope of being with them one day in Heaven.

34. JOSEPHOLGY. A study of the greatest of all the saints—the Great and Glorious Saint Joseph.

35. MARIOLOGY. Finally, we have arrived at an all-important branch of Theology, that of Mariology which means of course the study of Mary, her dogmas and devotions, and her important role in the History of salvation.

In conclusion, we hope and pray that this min-course in Theological vocabulary will motivate you to get know God more intimately, love God more ardently, and imitate the lives of the saints fervently, so that one day you will be with God in Heaven, in the company of the Blessed Virgin Mary, for all eternity. Amen!

Monday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

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

MONDAY, June 27th   Mt. 8: 18-22   Alleluia Verse: “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening; you have the words of everlasting life.”

Today’s readings can only be described as apocalyptic warnings in both the first reading and the Psalm. Even Jesus, in the Gospel, gives a warning to a would-be follower: “Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead.”

Yesterday’s meditation was based on a rich and powerful article titled “Blessings That Flow From Marriage & Family” by Fr. Ed. Today, he gives us a staunch warning about obstacles to receiving such blessings. Very much in tune with the readings of today!

MAJOR OBSTACLES TO LIVING OUT MARRIAGE AND THE FAMILY LIFE by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

Given that the family holds primary importance in the well-being of children, society, the country and the world at large, many obstacles rise to prevent, corrode and even destroy families.

This being the case, let us name and describe these major obstacles so that they can be avoided or at least overcome so as to save the family. It is the moral obligation of the Church, the political structures, academics, and the world at large to promote the family and the values that accrue to this first and most basic institution, deriving from God Himself—the family!

History has proven time and time again that the major civilizations of the world have declined and terminated in ruin primarily due to the corrosion and the attack against the stability of the family. Often included in this moral decline and destruction is capitulating to sexual immorality in one form or another. Jesus stated it unequivocally: “Blessed are the pure of heart for they will see God.” (Mt 5:8)

The following are a list of the many attacks that if not resisted can easily lead to the decline and downfall of the family, as well as the society at large. Spiritual writers, especially Saint Ignatius of Loyola, have constantly insisted on the capital importance of the principle of self-knowledge. The desert fathers had a two-word axiom: KNOW THYSELF!!! This can be applied in a more vast and extensive sense of knowing the dangers militant against the stability of the family!

1. THE TRIAL MARRIAGE (COHABITATION) MENTALITY. It is a very sad fact that many, very many, young people make the decision to start to live-together, to cohabit before opting for the decision to receive the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony. This decision is catastrophic morally. Why? For the simple reason that they decide to live in a state of mortal sin. Consequently, they sever themselves from the source of grace, the Sacramental life of the Eucharist and Confession for as long as they co-habitate. Once children arrive on the scene, these little innocent ones are deprived of the abundant graces that flow from the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony. Let us pray for the younger generation that they will start off on the right foot by pleasing God and getting married in the Church. Without God we are lost: with God we can do all things!

2. MODERN DRUG: THE DRUG OF PORNOGRAPHY. Whether we like it or not we all live in a modern pornographic society. Left and right, north and south, east and west we are being bombarded by images. We live in an image world. Unfortunately, many of these images are indecent; many are pornographic. The sources? Television, Radio, Movies, You-tube, Instagram, the Internet, and cell-phones, even conversations—all of these are not intrinsically evil. However, if sought out and used impurely, the effects are nothing less than catastrophic. Modern experts in addictions and moral slavery all concur with the fact that pornography is highly addictive. By many, it is termed the Modern-drug. Once the addiction takes root, then the human person, especially the woman, is viewed not in her innate dignity, created in the image and likeness of God, and through Baptism a daughter of God, but rather as an object. Objectivized she is seen as a mere object to be used, utilized, exploited and then discarded. Pope Francis calls it the throw-away society.

3. SLAVERY TO THE INTERNET, SLAVERY TO THE CELL-PHONE. Modern technology, if properly used is invaluable! However, as Saint Paul reminds us, it can be a two-edged sword. In a few seconds, almost any information we desire is at our fingertips. However, the real danger is that we can become addicted to anything and that includes our cell-phone. Unfortunately, we can become so accustomed to the phone that we give more time, more attention, and more priority to the phone. As a result, the material object of the phone has greater importance over spouse, children and family. In this area families must come together and discern very seriously where, when, and how much time should be dedicated to the use of the phone. If not, the very center of family life will not be God, but the modern idol of the CELL-PHONE. We do not want to bend our knee to the phone, but to the living God. An idol by definition is any person, place or thing that we place above God, and all that refers and relates to God—including the family, the Domestic Church.

4. POOR OR MEDIOCRE MARRIAGE PREPARATION. Recently the Holy Father, Pope Francis, in one of his catechesis mentioned the lack of proper preparation for those who have chosen the Marriage-vocation. The Holy Father calls for a more serious and intense process of preparation for Holy Matrimony. The Pope mentions the fact that without solid marital preparation, without the proper tools, once married it can easily happen that when encountering their first crisis, the young married couple fall apart. Parishes should establish solid marriage preparation courses. (In the Parish of St. Peter Chanel in Hawaiian Gardens, CA, we have implemented this over the past 20 years!!!)

5. THE CONTRACEPTIVE MENTALITY. Another major detriment and enemy militant against the family is the pervasive Contraceptive mentality. By this is meant the following: a lack of openness to life, to children, to the reality of procreation. In past generations, husband and wife would marry and be open to and happy in receiving as many children as God, in His Divine Providence, would send them. Today, quite the contrary, many young couples have the mentality of trying to avoid having children and with that avoidance utilizing immoral means. The Pill, Norplant, the IUD, as well as chemical means to avoid conception, procreation and openness to having a child. Of course, one of the primary purposes of the married life is that of being open to having children. Bible resources always view having children as one of the greatest blessings from God, the Author and Origin of life! (Read Pope Saint Paul VI’s short encyclical Humane Vitae, for more information on this topic.)

6. THE LGBT AGENDA. Unfortunately the LGBT agenda has inserted itself into the overall mentality of the modern world. The devil himself has inserted and embedded his presence in three principal and key places in modern society. Pope Saint John Paul II terms this the institutionalization of sin— meaning that it is a sad fact that sin is not simply an isolated fact but has encrusted itself into the very institutions of society. There are three primary places where the LGBT and the total confusion of sexual identify have found their abode: 1) Hollywood (the Mass-media), 2) Politics in general that largely promotes Liberal ideologies; 3) Academics that unfortunately are teaching even from the most tender ages the Transgender ideology! Our work is to fight through prayer, penance, and intelligent structures for the traditional and Biblical roots of the family. That is to say, we must promote and defend the family as designed and ordained by God, and that is man and woman uniting in love becoming one flesh and resulting in the bringing forth of children as a fruit of their marital union.

7. THE DIVORCE MENTALITY. It is a sad fact that nobody can deny that most marriages terminate in separations and eventually divorce, and then the separated persons choose to live in the state of adultery. Sacramentally married couples must enter into Holy Matrimony with the firm decision and conviction of living out the promise that they made on the very day of their marriage. The couple conferred the Sacrament of Marriage with these words of promise, this marital vow (both say these words individually): “I promise to be faithful to you in good times and bad, riches and poverty, health and in sickness, until death do we part.” This in a world in which many fail in willingness to make permanent commitments. Those who do marry must affirm the permanent and indissoluble character of Holy Matrimony. Only death ends their marital commitment. The word separation and divorce should not even be part of their vocabulary.

8. A PAGANISTIC, SECULAR, MATERIALISTIC WORLD MENTALITY. Couples that strive to live out their marriage absorbed, imbued and immersed with a modern paganistic, secular, materialistic world-view most likely will not survive as a marriage and family. Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen expressed the concept succinctly and to the point in the book that he penned for married couples with the title IT TAKES THREE TO GET MARRIED. Bingo!!! If a married couple is to remain faithful until the end, they must be united as three: husband and wife, but the third person must be JESUS THE LORD! Indeed, Jesus the Lord is the hidden but most important Person in the Marriage. Indeed, He is the super-glue that cohesively unites the couple in love—a love related to sacrifice.

9. DRIFTING FROM THE CHURCH AND THE SACRAMENTAL LIFE. Related intimately with inserting Jesus in the center of married life is the reality of the Church titled, “The Mystical Body of Christ.” Modern liberals often assert: “I love the Bible, as well as the Person of Jesus Christ. However, I cannot stand the Catholic Church!!!” Not only is this mentality false but it also militates energetically against the teachings of Jesus Christ. He left us but promised that He would be with us always even until the end of time. (Mt 28:20) How and where is Jesus present? Precisely in the Catholic Church, and most specifically in the Sacraments—especially the Eucharist, His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. In a word, once the married couple drifts from the life of the Church and the sacramental life, that couple is in serious danger. The many ravenous wolves of secularism, hedonism, unfaithfulness, pornography, anger and despair can all viciously rent asunder the marriage structure and rapidly. Many Catholics are dying of a certain SPIRITUAL ANOREXIA—that is to say, a spiritual starvation from not nourishing on the ultimate source of strength—the Bread of Life in Holy Communion!

10. RESENTMENT, ANGER AND LACK OF FORGIVENESS. It must be said with the utmost clarity: resentment, anger and a lack of forgiveness can ruin the best of families. Sacred Scripture teaches clearly: “Do not let the sun go down on your anger.” (Eph 4:26) Husbands and wives must learn how to cope with disagreements, differences of opinion, quarrels and discords. A true sign of maturity in Marriage and Family Life is the ability of the couple, after a quarrel or disagreement, to be able to forgive each other, to reconcile and make amends, and restore peace quickly. To go to bed angry at each other could be catastrophic. At Weddings, I often tell the couple in my wedding homily that these are the three most important short phrases that should be said frequently by the couple marrying: “I love you! Forgive me! I am sorry! Lack of forgiveness leads to resentment; resentment to bitter anger, and anger even to coldness and hatred. If you like, what acid is to the stomach wall, unforgiveness and resentments are to the soul, in this case to the soul of the family. May the words of the English Catholic poet, Alexander Pope, be the motto of every married couple: “To err is human, to forgive is divine.”

Let us pray fervently to the Holy Family—Jesus, Mary and Saint Joseph for the sake and for the future of the families of the world, and most especially for our own families. We are all called to become saints. Jesus taught this as an imperious command: “Be holy as your Heavenly Father is holy.” (Mt 5:48) In most cases, holiness flows through a holy channel or vessel and that is the family. May this prayer in honor of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Saint Joseph, be our prayer:

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

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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

SUNDAY, June 26th   Lk: 9: 51-62   Alleluia Verse: “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening; you have the words of everlasting life.”

Sunday is set aside by the Church for all to go to Mass, and hopefully for most, a day of rest and family time! Family time with the family of God at Mass, and family time with our immediate and extended family. This is a good day to meditate on the blessings that flow from marriage and family. Married or not, we are all part of a family. Fr. Ed reminds us of the blessings we all want to pray for in support of marriage and family life!

BLESSINGS THAT FLOW FROM MARRIAGE & FAMILY by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

The first institution created by God Himself is the family—the union between man and woman for the benefit of the children, as well as for society. The Second Vatican Council and its documents constantly refer to the family as “The Domestic Church”—the Church in miniature.

Pope Saint John Paul II, who wrote the Letter to the Family, insists on the vital importance of the family. In fact, the family is the primary cell of society, as well as the primary building block of society. The pathway that the society follows depends on the family, its unity, integrity and solidity.

A summary glance of history highlights the inevitable fact of the importance of the family for the future of civilization. Almost all of the major civilizations declined, unraveled and dissolved for many reasons and underlying factors. However, of the most prominent would be the crisis of the family. Embedded in the society in crisis would also be a widespread proliferation of sexual license and immorality. Often indeed, the family is subject to major attacks when sexual immorality rocks the family boat, capsizes and sinks the family ship—captain, crew and all of the members.

“From the beginning God created them male and female. Therefore, the man will leave his father and mother and cling to his wife and they will form one flesh. Therefore, what God has united let no man rent asunder.” (Jn 19:4-5) This was and still is God’s original plan for man, woman and the existence of the family.

Once a man and woman bond together through the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony countless graces and blessings flow from this bond, from this marital union. Holy Matrimony and the Family is indeed a vocation. By vocation is meant a true calling from God. Indeed, there is a real calling to holiness as Jesus stated emphatically, “Be holy as your heavenly Father is holy”, in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony.   

Through the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony, God endows and blesses the man and woman with special graces commensurate with and corresponding to the state of Marriage and family. Through the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony both the husband and wife receive from God Himself special graces such as: the ability to grow in true love for each other, to be faithful to each other, to be open to procreation and bringing forth with God’s help new life—children, as well as to experience and live the joy of true Friendship with God, the Hidden Partner who is present every step along their pathway to Heaven.

Therefore, we would like to encourage all of those who have chosen the wonderful journey of the Marriage Covenant and commitment by highlighting the many benefits that flow from striving to live out the vocation and Sacrament of Holy Matrimony. God’s presence, grace, and Friendship is never lacking towards those who place their trust in Him. Indeed, “Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth” (Ps 124:8) and“If God is with us, who can be against us” (Rom 8:31).  

With the reception of the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony you can truly rejoice in these many blessings and still many more…

GOD’S GRACE.  By grace is meant His indwelling Presence in the soul. Indeed the name EMMANUEL is so true: “God is with us.” If we have a deep inner conviction that God is with us and we are never alone, then we can experience a peace that goes beyond our wildest imagination. When a child knows that his mother and father are present, he experiences security; lacking knowledge of their presence, the child lives penetrated with fears.

GRACE OF FAITHFULNESS.  With Holy Matrimony, God’s grace also entails the safeguard of faithfulness. True, adultery exists and can grow by leaps and bounds, but this is due to our unwillingness to correspond to the Sacramental graces of Holy Matrimony. Whoever plays with fire will get burnt. However, the grace is always present to reject the evil and to accept and do the good.

BLESSINGS OF CHILDREN.  No doubt, one of the primary purposes of Holy Matrimony is that of PROCREATION. This key word PROCREATION actually means the art of creating a new life by collaborating with God the Creator. Actually, the husband and wife provide the material means for procreation of the new child. However, in the moment of conception, God Himself intervenes and infuses the immortal soul in that new human being. That soul will exist for all eternity!

1. RAISING OF CHILDREN: FEAR OF THE LORD AND LOVE OF GOD.  Obviously, it is not enough to simply conceive the child, allow the child to be born, and say mission completed. Quite the contrary, the raising of the child in the Fear of the Lord and the love of God, and all that refers to God, flows from the reception of Holy Matrimony. Husband and wife, father and mother, loving God and expressing their sincere love for each other is a powerful means to infuse their children with an authentic love for God in their own lives.

2. STABILITY AND PERMANENCE IN MATRIMONY AND THE CHILDREN.  Without the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony, a man and woman simply living together have no permanent commitment. Therefore, when times get tough and the initial sentimental and romantic feelings disappear, and another person appears on the scene, how easy it is to jump ship and abandon the children for another partner. Holy Matrimony lived with sincerity and truth establishes both stability and permanence. As a consequence, the children experience a deep sense of security, a sense of concern and love for them that can help them grow to be well-formed and emotionally stable and happy sons and daughters of God.

3. RAISING THE CHILDREN: THE WORK-LOAD IS HALVED.  If husband and wife, father and mother, collaborate with the Sacrament of Matrimony and have children then both can work as a team in raising their children. The burden is cut in half. Jesus said: “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Mt 11:30) Spiritual-physical-emotional family teamwork diminishes considerably the arduous task of forming children.

4. FAMILY-LIFE IS HEAVEN-BOUND.  Another priceless gift that flows from the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony and the authentic Catholic family is the accomplishment of the primary goal and purpose of all of us: to get to Heaven! When Father and Mother, husband and wife, live out their Sacramental life to the fullest by participating in the Sacramental life of the Church, the children receive a bountiful down pouring of graces. Seeing Mom and Dad receiving Holy Communion with faith, love and fervor is a powerful magnetic force that can attract and pull their children into the same practice. Words can be cheap, example most powerful!

5. AUTHENTIC OUTPOURING OF LOVE.  The husband and wife, the father and mother, who strive to live out the Gospel’s mandate of love, “Love one another as I have loved you” (Jn 15-12), pour forth this love on their children. In a word, we all want to be loved but we cannot give what we do not have ourselves. Once the couple experience God’s overflowing love, they can love each other, and then that love pours down upon their children. Permeated by God’s love flowing down from the hearts of loving spouses and parents, these children can radiate and transmit love in a world so inundated by egoism and selfishness.

6. GOOD ADVICE THAT LASTS A LIFE-TIME.  Also flowing from the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony is the grace of the Holy Spirit upon parents to counsel, to direct, to guide their children on the right path. Parents can help their children to choose the right Higher Education, the right profession, and finally the right life-vocation. The Gift of the Holy Spirit of Counsel comes from the proper reception of the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony.

7. THE HOLY FAMILY AS MODEL.  Of course, the best model for all families is the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Saint Joseph. Mary was and is the perfect wife and Mother, and Saint Joseph, the perfect husband and father. Clearly Jesus was the perfect Son. All true and authentic families should lift their gaze and contemplate Jesus, Mary and Saint Joseph as role models for their own lives and growth in holiness!

Closing prayer:  “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 breath forth my soul unto thee.”

Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary

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

SATURDAY, June 25th   Lk: 2: 41-51   THE IMMACULATE HEART OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY   Alleluia Verse: “Blessed is the Virgin Mary who kept the word of God and pondered it in her heart.”

CONSOLING THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

After Jesus, nobody has loved us more than Mary in her most pure Immaculate Heart. Also, after the sufferings of Jesus, there is nobody on earth who 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. The Franciscans especially have a charism of 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 following is an orderly, chronological listing of the Seven Sorrows of Mary, from the Infancy of Jesus up to His death and ending with His burial:

1. Prophecy of Simeon — “A sword will piece your heart.”

2. Flight into Egypt — Herod in pursuit to kill the Child Jesus.

3. Jesus is Lost in the Temple — Mary’s sorrow in losing Jesus for three days!

4. Mary meets Jesus on the way to Calvary — Mary meeting the eyes of Jesus as He carries the cross.

5. Crucifixion of Jesus — Mary present and witnessing the crucifixion of her Beloved Son.

6. Lowering of Jesus into Mary’s Arms — the dead body of Jesus is lowered into the arms of Mary.

7. Burial of Jesus — the separation of Jesus and Mary with the burial of Jesus in the tomb.

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 to a limited degree, the sorrow of Mary, 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 can and 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 we can console the Heart of Mary in this contemplation would be to go to frequent confession in honor of Mary. Mary’s powerful prayers and presence will attain for us the grace to examine our conscience and then reveal our 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, will rejoice in your opening up your mind, heart, and soul to the Mercy of Jesus in Confession.

2. The Flight into Egypt…

Saint Joseph got up and taking the Mother and Child fled into Egypt. 

How can we console the Heart of Mary in this painful sorrow? We all live in perpetual spiritual combat, spiritual warfare. We can console the Heart of Mary by imitating good Saint Joseph in fleeing from moral evil that we call 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 a sure refuge!

3. Losing and Finding Jesus in the Temple…

After three days of sorrowful searching, they found 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 their parents, children may 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 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? Especially pray the rosary daily, as Our Lady exhorted the three children of Fatima to do, so that these 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 Mary. A concrete manner in which we can console Mary is to imitate Jesus by carrying our crosses. However, with this important stipulation: share your crosses with Mary. The mere presence of Mary contemplating 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 to carry your cross with faith, confidence, trust and love. Often our crosses are 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. 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. 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 the universal spiritual Mother, as our Mother! 

How can we console Mary in this mystery? Imitate Saint Juan Diego with Our Lady of Guadalupe and the little boy in the movie Marcelino, pan y vino or Miracle of Marcelino (1955 version). In what way? Very simple: be like a small child and tell Mary everything that is happening in your life, trusting totally and unreservedly in the Maternal Presence and Heart of your loving Mother Mary.

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 now 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 do 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, because no one ever received Jesus with greater or more pure 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 and earnestly 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 gain our 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!