Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels

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

Saturday, October 2nd   Mt. 18: 1-5, 10   “Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”

• St. Therese of Lisieux, whose Feast Day we celebrated yesterday, shares God’s wisdom with us: “Jesus does not demand great actions from us, but simply surrender and gratitude.”
• Does that describe your relationship with Jesus? Let each of us ask ourselves, “How far am I from a life of surrender and gratitude to Jesus? What would it take for me to enter into such a relationship of total trust?
• Today in honor of Mary and the Child Jesus, we will do an Ignatian repetition of a meditation with a message that is simple to understand but takes a life time to live!

LESSONS FROM THE CHILD JESUS: GOD’S WISDOM! By Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

Jesus stated it very clearly:  “Unless you become like a child you cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Mt 18:3) Also, on one occasion when the Apostles were trying to prevent the children from coming to Jesus, the Lord said forcefully: “Let the children come to me; if you do not become like a little child you cannot enter the Kingdom of God.” (Mt 19:14)

OUR LADY OF FATIMA AND CHILDREN.  One of the most famous modern approved apparitions is that of Our Lady of Fatima. God sent His Mother from heaven to the little town in Portugal, Fatima, in the year 1917, six times from May 13 until October 13. Who did Our Lady appear to? The brilliant? The scholars? The rich and important? The flashy and ostentatious? To none of these did Our Lady appear. Rather, she appeared to three little children—tenders of sheep, and with no formal education! God’s ways are not our ways—this is certain!

GOD’S PROVIDENTIAL DESIGN.  God could have chosen limitless possibilities to ransom or to save humanity after the sin of our first parents, Adam and Eve, the sin that we call Original Sin. God could have come as a powerful King, or a rich millionaire, or as a brilliant genius, or a plethora of other flashy, fantastic ways! But no! God’s ways are as different from our ways as the heavens are from the earth! In His Providential Design, God willed to save the world by what theologians call The Incarnation—meaning? That God willed to become one of us, to become a man like all of us with one exception—He was born without sin, lived a sinless life, and died on the cross to save us from our sins!

AS A CHILD.  Furthermore, God willed to enter the world by the same means by which we entered the world—through a woman. God chose Mary to be the channel by which He would enter humanity. The Ever-Virgin Mary conceived Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit and maintained her virginity even in the moment of giving birth to Jesus.   

JESUS THE CHILD—THE SON OF GOD.  Jesus was the baby born of Mary. This Virgin Mother took Him in her tender arms, wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and nestled Him close to her most pure and Immaculate Heart. Then Mary placed Jesus on the hay in the manger. The word manger comes from French and means to eat! It was the feeding trough of the animals. Later on, as a man, Jesus would challenge people to nourish themselves on His Body and Blood if they wanted to live and live forever. “I am the Bread of life. Whoever eats my Body and drinks my Blood will have everlasting life and I will raise Him up on the last day.” (Jn 6:22-71—Bread of Life discourse)

BETHLEHEM: HOUSE OF BREAD.  There are no coincidences or unplanned circumstances in God’s providential design. The word Bethlehem actually means House of Bread. No surprise that Jesus, who was born in the city of The House of Bread, would declare Himself the Bread of Life and challenge us that our eternal salvation hinges upon our consuming Him at Mass in Holy Communion as the Bread of Life.

THE IMPORTANT LESSONS FROM THE CHILD JESUS.

There are many lessons to learn from God becoming man, being in the womb of Mary for nine months, and finally being born as a little Baby. Let us dig deep into this goldmine of wealth and derive abundant treasures from our meditation for imitation, transformation, sanctification and perseverance! What then are the lessons of the Child-Infant Jesus?

1. DEPENDENCY.  Even though the Child Jesus was God, the Son of God made man, still He made Himself totally dependent on others, most especially Mary and Saint Joseph. Jesus would live this attitude of dependency on His Heavenly Father during the whole course of His life. In our spiritual lives we must develop and cultivate a child-like dependency on God in all times, places and circumstances. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus challenges us to trust by contemplating nature—the lilies of the field and the birds of the air. (Mt 6:25-34). In His Public life Jesus had no permanent home, saying: “The foxes have their holes and the birds of the air their nests, but the Son of man has nowhere to rest His head.” (Lk 9:58)

2. HUMILITY.  The littleness of the Child Jesus is an extraordinary example of humility. God loves the humble but casts down the mighty from their thrones. (Mary’s Magnificat Lk 1:52) Jesus chose the Pharisee over the Publican, humility over an overweening pride. (Lk 18:9-14) As God made man, on one occasion Jesus described His own Sacred Heart using two descriptions: “I am meek and humble of heart.” (Mt 11:29) Arrogance, conceit, haughtiness, and self-importance are all alien to the person of the child, and most especially the Child Jesus! May He inspire us to pursue a life of great humility!

3. POVERTY.  Once again, even though Jesus was, is and always will be God, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, He chose to enter the portals of this world not in a palace, castle, or opulent mansion. On the contrary, He entered this world being born in a stable that served as a refuge for animals. A good part of the warmth of that little cave came from the presence, the heat and the breath of the animals present there! We must learn that pursuing money, possessions, power, and esteem will not fill us with authentic joy. Pleasure, yes, but true joy, never! The Child Jesus born in Bethlehem teaches us to find true happiness not in the created world, but in the Creator of the world—Jesus the Lord. Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen penned it so eloquently: “The Creator of the universe had no place to be born in His own creation!”

4. INNOCENCE.  In a world where innocence is being lost even among the children due to uncontrolled use of modern technology, the Child Jesus teaches us clearly and unequivocally the importance of striving to live lives of innocence and freedom from sin. Still more, the Innocent Child Jesus in the arms of Mother Mary challenges us to strive to protect the innocence of our children threatened by so many modern wolves! Never have our children been more in danger than they are today by the wolf of false and perverse teachings about God’s gift of sexuality and our God-given sexual identity.

5. CHILDLIKE SIMPLICITY: INSPIRING TRUST.  In the overly complicated world that we have created, we should all long for a more humble, frugal, simple, transparent, as well as detached life-style. Models for us a would be Saint Francis of Assisi, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and the children of Fatima—Saint Jacinta Marto, Saint Francisco Marto and their cousin Lucia De los Santos. By contemplating the Little Child Jesus resting peacefully in the arms of Mary, His loving Mother, having little and needing little, may we learn to strive for Evangelical Poverty and simplicity. Having the necessities without the excesses. Saint Ignatius of Loyola points out that nobody is afraid to approach an innocent little Child—a strong, aggressive warrior, most-likely—but not an innocent little Child.

May the Little Child Jesus resting in the loving and tender arms of His Mother Mary inspire us to greater trust, greater dependency on God, greater humility, greater simplicity, and a life of detachment from things so that we can be totally anchored and rooted in God!!!

Memorial of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church

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

Friday, October 1st   Lk. 10: 13-16   “Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”

• This Gospel today is a continuation of yesterday’s Gospel where Jesus sent the 72 out on mission. We are sent out on mission as well.
• The churches are open in this phase of the Covid pandemic, but not all Catholics are returning. There is much work to be done, and we have a part in this work of calling them back to Christ in the reception of the Sacraments. As well as Catholic catechesis in preparation to receive the Sacraments for children, teens, and adults.
• Add to this the many non-practicing Catholics who have strayed from the faith and have lost their way back.
• Let this be an examination of conscience for each one of us. Are we doing all that we can to bring our brothers and sisters back to practice of the faith in the one, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church of Jesus Christ! Fr. Ed has many helpful and innovative suggestions to guide us!

WELCOME BACK TO THE FAMILY OF GOD by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

“I really get bored when I go to Mass… I don’t like the choir and the music… the preaching puts me to sleep… there are so many scandals in the Church …. Catholics are a bunch of hypocrites …. I can find my spiritual energy captivated by the beauty of nature… I am so busy that I simply do not have time for Mass… Going to Mass is for the old people; I am young, intelligent, vibrant and energetic… Later on in my life, I may drift back to the Church.

All of the above negative comments are leveled against returning to the Church and receiving the life-saving graces that flow most abundantly through the Sacraments, and most especially through the greatest of all Sacraments: the most Holy Eucharist.

It is a sad, cruel and stark reality: most Catholics throughout the world do not attend Holy Mass. In many predominantly Catholic countries, the largest religious entity or group are Catholics, but underline this fact: NON-PRACTICING CATHOLICS!!! Italy, France, Spain, Mexico, and all of South America, Latin America, as well as the Philippines—all of these countries are predominantly Catholic. However, while the huge majority of the people in these countries would state that they are Catholic, they rarely attend Holy Mass.

There has been a radical change in the past 50-60 years. In the USA in the 50’s and even into the early 60’s, statistically close to 75%-80% of Catholics would quite regularly attend the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, almost every Sunday. Personally, I remember missing Holy Mass only once as a child and it was because of a violent snow-storm which stranded our family as home-bound for that Sunday Mass! Now, the numbers and statistics have done a total U–TURN! Perhaps 20% or less attend Holy Mass every Sunday.

As Catholics and followers of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Lord of Lords and King of Kings, we should truly love what He loves. The great love of Jesus, the Savior, is for the human-person, created in the image and likeness of God, and the salvation of his immortal soul. Jesus stated this truth unequivocally and with great emphasis: “What would it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul. What can a man exchange for his soul?” (Mt 16:26) Jesus hungers and thirsts for the salvation of a multitude of souls! Saint Ignatius of Loyola in his classic Meditation/Contemplation, The call of the Temporal King so as to follow the Eternal King, challenges us not be deaf to the call of the King. The earthly King is bent upon conquering the world and its possessions for himself. The Eternal King, Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, has no interest in temporal conquering and dominion, but rather in the conquering and salvation of immortal souls.

With this knowledge of the desire, the thrust, and the purpose of Jesus’ life—hungering and thirsting for souls—let us beg for the grace to collaborate with Jesus in this most noble of all endeavors: the salvation of immortal souls!

Let us set up a game-plan or strategy starting right now on how we can bring these lost sheep, Prodigal sons and daughters, straying flocks back to the loving arms of the Good Shepherd, back to the loving and tender embrace of the Father of the Prodigal son.

STRATEGY TO BRING THE STRAY SHEEP BACK HOME!

1. PRAYER AND THE SACRAMENTS.  Without the grace that flows in abundance through prayer and the Sacraments, conversions or reversions to the Catholic faith will come about far and few between. It will be like building an edifice upon sand. Rain and tempest beating and battering against a structure built on sand will necessarily cause collapse and disaster. (Mt 7:24-27) Starting now let us pray, offer our Masses and Holy Communions, and as many Rosaries as we can, to bring back the Catholics who have abandoned the practice of the faith.

2. PENANCE.  Jesus stated with utmost clarity: “Some devils can be cast out only by prayer and fasting (penance). (Mt 17:21) Our Lady of Fatima reiterated the same truth: “Pray and offer sacrifices because many souls are lost because not enough people pray and offer sacrifices for them.” Let us choose and impose upon ourselves some specific prayers and concrete forms of penance for the purpose of fostering the return of the forlorn and confused Catholics back to the Fold!

3. HOLINESS OF LIFE.  Magnetism emanates from sanctity of life. Why was it that so many people scurried on foot to the River Jordan? Not so much due to the waters in that river, but rather due to the holiness of the man who was baptizing in those waters—Saint John the Baptist. If we can work on our own personal sanctification, then this sanctity will serve as a magnet to attract others back to Christ in His Mystical Body, which is the Church! Saint John Vianney attracted thousands to the remote, out of the way village of Ars. His holiness attracted even the hardest of sinners to conversion and return to the practice of the faith in the wake of the devastation wrought by the French Revolution when churches were closed and priests forbidden to preach and teach catechism.

4. INVITATION.  Andrew invited Peter to meet Jesus, as well as Philip, and the Greeks, many of whom accepted the invitation. Why not simply invite some wandering Catholic to return home, return to the Church, return to attend and participate in Holy Mass. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain! Every non-practicing Catholic is a potential practicing Catholic. Maybe the catalyst, the bridge is a simple invitation!

5. MAJOR FEASTS.  Take advantage of the Major Solemnities or Liturgical Feast days to invite the lost sheep to return to the fold: Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, Ash Wednesday, All Souls, All Saints, Marian Solemnities, such as the Immaculate Conception and the Assumption. These Glorious Liturgical celebrations offer signal graces for conversion.

6. ANNIVERSARIES.  Using spiritual astuteness, why not invite some relatives to attend Mass for key celebrations. Birthdays, Wedding Anniversaries, Graduation ceremonies, Anniversaries of the death of a relative—all of these can be means and motives to invite the lax-Catholics to return home!

7. CHURCH BULLETINS AND CONFESSION SCHEDULE.  Perhaps many wandering Catholics are ripe fruit, ready for the picking, if they could simply know the when and where of Confessions. If you don’t know, contact the parish office and find out! Then point out the day, the hour, and the place of the Confessional so that the fish can be caught in the net. Go one step further and give them an Examination of Conscience pamphlet or booklet as a guide. Then go with your friend at the time and place to the Confessional. You go to confession first and exit with an encouraging smile. Then say, “Your turn!” You will feel great and they will be born anew! This is really imitating Saint John the Baptist preparing the way to meet Jesus, the Divine Savior and Divine Physician.

8. RETREAT EXPERIENCE.  Many powerful conversions thunder into the lives of mediocre Catholics and even hardened sinners as a result of a powerful Retreat experience. Thus exposed to dynamic talks and personal witnesses, silence for deep prayer and examination of conscience, and the ability to receive the Sacraments of Confession and the Eucharist result in radical, life-changing experiences! Check around for the next retreat and attend with some of your confused-catholic friends! The net result? Conversion, commitment, and Catholic rebirth! My experience as a Retreat Master gives eloquent witness to the reality of many reversions to the faith as a result of a weekend or even one-day Retreat! Check it out! One good source for weekend retreats that comes immediately to mind is the Sacred Heart Retreat House in Alhambra run by the Carmelite Sisters.

9. GOOD READING, VIEWING, SOCIAL MEDIA. The eyes, the ears, the mind, the imagination are all captivated by the image. Today the image manifests itself in various forms. Following our theme: God can enter into the heart of the individual in many ways. Why not use these tools, these nets, these bridges to bring the wandering Catholic sheep back to the fold? Suggest and expose these Lax-Catholics to the following: T.V. (EWTN), Catholic Radio (Relevant Radio), Catholic websites including my website www.fatherbroom.com with good Catholic articles, and of course good books on the saints or other Catholic topics. Many of these sources can serve as a catalyst and bridge to bring the lost sheep back to the practice of the faith.

10. CHURCH MOVEMENTS AND GROUPS. Apostolates and Ministries within the context of the Catholic Church undoubtedly can serve as bait and fishnet to lure the wandering fish into the boat. There are many, but we can name a few: Catholic Charismatic Renovation Prayer Groups, Legion of Mary, Knights of Columbus, Youth Groups, Focolare, Communion and Liberation, Neo-catechumenate, Spiritual Exercises Classes, Marian Consecration, Catechism (children and youth), Nocturnal Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Sodality of Mary, Missionary Groups, Grieving Ministry, Apostolate of the elderly and sick, and many more! Once a wandering and forlorn Catholic experiences the love, the warmth, and the sense of belonging to a specific group within the Church, they will experience the Church as a warm and loving family and long to come back and belong!

In conclusion, friends in Jesus, Mary and our Catholic family, many, in fact huge numbers of our family members have wandered from home. Baptized Catholics who made their First Communion and Confirmation, and were even married sacramentally— even with all this support, no longer practice the faith. It is truly incumbent upon all of us, if we truly love Jesus the Good Shepherd, to strive to bring as many lost sheep back to the fold as we possibly can! The harvest is rich, but the laborers are all too few. Right now, you are called to be a Good Shepherd, a spiritual Fisherman or Fisherwoman, a loving brother or sister so as to become a bridge to cross them back over to the ultimate source of Grace and Truth—the Catholic Church. Let us use all the tools, the nets, the instruments at our disposal to bring as many as possible back to the loving arms of the Father and the loving embrace of Jesus, our Savior and true Friend who will never abandon us, neither in time nor for all eternity!

Memorial of Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church

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

Thursday, September 30th   Lk 10:1-12   “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

• The Lord is sending us out as laborers into His harvest! The way to reap an abundant harvest is to be Christ-like to others.
• Today Fr. Ed illuminates the attitudes of the Heart of Jesus. Let us use the Beatitudes as an examination of conscience. Where do we most resemble Christ? Where do we least resemble Him?
• Let us beg for the grace to know Jesus more intimately, love Him more ardently, and follow Him more closely by living out the Beatitudes!

THE BEATITUDES: ATTITUDES OF THE HEART OF JESUS by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

THE PREACHING OF JESUS AT HIS BEST.  Our meditation/contemplation will be on the preaching of Jesus. In fact you might even present as the heart of His preaching, the Sermon on the Mount, which can be found in the Gospel of Saint Matthew, chapters 5, 6, and 7. However, the focus of this meditation is Jesus’ preaching of the EIGHT BEATITUDES and their promises. (Mt 5:1-12) Pope Saint John Paul II stated: “The Beatitudes are a mirror into the Heart of Jesus.” If you sincerely want to have a glimpse into the Sacred Heart of Jesus and His most sublime virtues, then enter into the Beatitudes. That will be our meditation, our contemplation, and our challenge— to really get to know Jesus more intimately, love Him more ardently, and be motivated to follow Him more closely so as to bring others to Him, and last, but by no means least, to become like Him. Until in the words of Saint Paul: “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” (Gal. 2:20)

FIRST BEATITUDE: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

Jesus lived what He preached starting out with this first Beatitude. Jesus was rejected before He was born – “there was no room for them at the inn”. (Lk 2:7) He was born in a poor stable in Bethlehem. He worked a hard and demanding job as a Carpenter. Once He left home, He had no fixed abode, as He Himself said: “The foxes have their holes and the birds of the air have their nests, but the Son of man has nowhere to lay His head.” (Lk 9:58) For three years Jesus lived relying and depending totally on the Father’s Divine and Providential care. He died rejected on the cross, stripped of His garments and of His dignity. Finally, He was buried in a borrowed tomb. Jesus truly lived poverty, detachment, and total trust in God.

What about us? Have we become a slave of things? Have we allowed our possessions to possess us? Are we attached to persons, places, things, opinions, circumstances, even our own way of thinking and mode of living? There is a lot here. What are we attached to? Let is examine our life and pray over this Beatitude!

SECOND BEATITUDE: “Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

Three times we see Jesus weeping in His Public life. First, over the city of Jerusalem:“How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing.” (Mt 23:37) Second, at the death of His friend Lazarus, with Mary and Martha present: “Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, ‘See how he loved him!’” (Jn 11:35-36) Third, in the Garden of Gethsemane, entering into His Passion. This is recounted in the Letter to the Hebrews: “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death.” (Heb 5:7)

What profit can be derived from weeping? Our Lady of Lasalette (France) wept for the sins of the people. Our Lady of Syracuse (Sicily) wept. Our Lady of Akita (Japan) wept tears of blood for the sins of the people. Saint Monica wept profuse tears for the conversion of her wayward son who became a great Saint and Doctor of the Church, Saint Augustine.

Therefore, in reparation, pray over this Beatitude and weep, most especially for your own personal sins, then for the sins of wayward family members, and finally for the sins of the world at large. “Be converted, because the Kingdom of God is at hand.” (Mk 1:15)

THIRD BEATITUDE: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the land.” 

Meekness is not weakness but powerful emotion under control. Often meekness is translated or understood as the virtue, so necessary, of PATIENCE!!! Once again we contemplate the infinite patience of Jesus at all times and places. His patience with His faulty and flawed Apostles. His patience with the Pharisees constantly attacking Him. His patience with the many sinners who came to Him. Most especially, His patience in His Passion—carrying the cross, now stumbling and falling, now getting up again. His patience and mercy toward His enemies: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Lk 23:34)

Let us contemplate Jesus and beg for true meekness of heart with this prayer: “Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart line unto thine.” Let us pray for patience with God and His dealings with us; patience with others, especially family members; and patience with ourselves. Most important, let us never give in to discouragement. When we fall, get up! Nunc Coepi—Now I begin. “Even if I should fall a thousand times a day, a thousand times I will get up again and say Nunc Cœpi–Now I begin.” (Ven. Bruno Lanteri, Founder of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary)

FOURTH BEATITUDE:  “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness or holiness, for they will be satisfied.”

Jesus is holy—meaning, the whole life of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is a model of resplendent and perfect holiness—a model to follow, to imitate. Jesus wants us to be holy, to become a great saint! Later, Jesus will issue an imperative command: “Be holy as your heavenly Father is holy.” (Mt 5:48) What Jesus commands us to do, He will give the grace and power to carry out.

First, we must beg fervently, frequently, and full of faith for the grace to be holy. Then in all of our words, actions, and intentions may we have Jesus always before our eyes. One of the most famous books ever written is precisely that: The Imitation of Christ!!! Beg for the grace to live out this wonderful but challenging Beatitude. May the prayer of the Psalmist be yours and mine: “As the deer yearns for running streams, so my soul longs for you, O Lord my God.” (Ps 42:1) May we hunger and thirst for God and for holiness, above any other person, place or thing in our lives!!!

FIFTH BEATITUDE:  “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”

Once again, Jesus is our sublime and supreme model in His preaching and in His life-style. A few of His teachings on the importance of mercy:

• “Be merciful as your Heavenly Father is merciful.” (Lk 6:36)
• “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” (Mt 6:12 – the Our Father)
• “I tell you anyone who is angry with a brother will be subject to judgment. Leave your gift and first be reconciled to your brother and then offer your gift.” (Mt 5:22-23)
• “Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing.” (Lk 23:34 – the first words of Jesus as He hung from the cross.)

Of course the most sublime example of mercy shown by Jesus, as mentioned above, was when He hung from the cross, basically an open, gaping wound: “Father forgive, them for they know not what they are doing.” Scourged, crowned with thorns, spat upon, insulted, abandoned by His best friends, and seemingly by His Heavenly Father, what does Jesus do? He forgives them from the depths of His Pierced Heart! What a sublime example of love, compassion, forgiveness, and especially the Beatitude of MERCY!!!

Your own life and Mercy.  Dig into the depths of your heart and be sincere, honest, and transparent. How many times in your life have you been willing to forgive??? Beg now for the grace to forgive all those who have hurt you, and especially beg for the grace to reject resentment and the hard feelings that militate against living out this Beatitude: “Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy.” Saint Ignatius gives us the secret to achieve this: Agere Contra, meaning act against. Act against your resentment and hard feelings by praying daily for the persons who have hurt you in your life, even if you don’t feel like it. This is not hypocrisy, this is heroic virtue. God’s grace will do the rest!

SIXTH BEATITUDE: “Blessed are the clean of heart (pure of heart) for they will see God.”

A most challenging virtue and disposition of heart and soul to live. Jesus is our model always and at all times! Jesus’ eyes, mind, heart, soul, body, and even His intentions were always most pure and focused on the Face of the Eternal Father. The will of Jesus was to carry out the will of His Heavenly Father. Our Lady of Fatima said with sadness that most souls are lost as a result of impurity—breaking the 6th and 9th Commandments. Look into your inner being, your life past and present, and humbly beg for purity. Beg for purity of eyes, ears, body, mind, heart, soul, and even purity of intention. In the words of Saint Paul: “Whether you eat or drink do all for the honor and glory of God.” (1Cor. 10:31) Call to mind the motto of Saint Ignatius in the Spiritual Exercises: A.M.D.G.—All for the honor and glory of God. Finally, in the words of Saint Paul again: “You have been redeemed by the Blood of Jesus; therefore, glorify God in your bodies!” (1 Cor. 6:20)

Our bodies are Temples of the living God! May we use them in all times and places to glorify God. In closing, turn to the Blessed Virgin Mary and consecrate yourself to her most pure and Immaculate Heart: “Sweet Heart of Mary, be my salvation!” Take the thorns from her Heart, and crown her Heart instead with beautiful roses—the rose petals of purity of heart, mind, body, and soul!!!

SEVENTH BEATITUDE: “Blessed are the peace-makers for they will be called the children of God.”

Lift your eyes to Jesus and beg for the grace to live out this Beatitude that refers to peace! The Prophet Isaiah called Jesus the Prince of Peace. Jesus would greet the Apostles with the word: SHALOM meaning—PEACE BE WITH YOU! Upon the birth of Jesus, the angelic choir sang: “Glory to God in the highest and peace to people of good will.” Upon appearing to the Apostles in the Upper Room that first Easter Sunday night, Jesus addressed the Apostles in these words: “Shalom! As the Father sends me so I send you.” And He breathed on them and said: “Receive the Holy Spirit; whose sins you forgive, they will be forgiven, and whose sins you hold bound, they will be held bound.” (Jn. 20:21-23)

A key Sacramental interpretation of this beatitude is the following: to be a true peace-maker, we must first be at peace with God by renouncing sin and our sinful patterns. For we will never be at peace with others while we are at war with God and within ourselves! How can this be done? Most clearly by forming the habit of frequent, well-prepared, and well-made Sacramental Confessions. What beautiful and consoling words from the priest: “I absolve you of your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Your sins are forgiven, go in PEACE!” Meditate upon this Beatitude and examine your habit of Confession and the quality of your confessions. There likely is room for improvement! May Our Lady, Queen of Peace, come to our aid!

EIGHTH BEATITUDE: “Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.”

Once again, clearly not only did Jesus teach this but He lived it to the highest degree of perfection. Not only was Jesus persecuted, He went through His most bitter Passion, suffering and death on the cross. All of this is a most sublime teaching of the Beatitude on Persecution. As the Acts of the Apostles states: “Jesus went about doing good.” (Acts 10:38) Despite His kindness, and all the good He did—His love for the poor, the sick, the suffering, the marginalized, the forgotten and neglected, even the little children, the orphans and widows—still Jesus was nailed to the cross.

Therefore, if we really live out the first Seven Beatitudes, our reward is the Eighth: “Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” Indeed, if you are really and truly living out the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, then you will experience some form of persecution. It might be at work, or in your extended family, or even in your immediate family, maybe even from your spouse and children. Jesus said that He did not come to bring peace but war, especially in the family. Family members will be divided because of their allegiance and love for Jesus the Lord. We cannot serve money and God, nor the world and God. They are diametrically opposed. Jesus must be our alpha and omega, our principle and end, our purpose and meaning in life. Jesus has to be the ardent and constant desire of our heart. Who were those who really lived out this last Beatitude to the highest degree? Obviously this would be the class that we call the MARTYRS—a word meaning witness. They gave the most eloquent witness to their love for the Lord Jesus by imitating Jesus in shedding their blood for Him! “No greater love exists than to give one’s life for his friends.” (Jn. 15:30)

CONCLUSION

May this serious and deep meditation on the Beatitudes spur you on with every fiber of your being to get to know Jesus more fully, love Him more ardently, follow Him more closely, so as to bring others to Him more frequently, and live out the words of Saint Paul related to our transformation in Christ: “It is no longer I who lives but Christ who lives in me.” (Gal 2:20)

Biographical notes: Pope Francis in Gaudete et Exultate has left an excellent commentary on the Beatitudes, Chapter Three, Numbers 63-109. Also, the modern author, preacher and Retreat Director, Jacques Phillipe, has written a book on the Beatitudes. Great resources for our spiritual life and growth!

Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, archangels

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

Wednesday, September 29th   Jn 1:47-51   “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

• Today’s meditation is in honor of the Feast of three Saints/Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael who each play an important role in Salvation History.

• Michael appears in the Old Testament in Daniel’s vision as “the great prince” who defends Israel against its enemies. Michael appears again in the Book of Revelation when a war arose in heaven with Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon and his angels who were thrown down to earth, and who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world.

• In Luke, Gabriel first announces the birth of John the Baptist to Zechariah in the Temple, “and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their god.” Next he announces the good news to the virgin of Nazareth: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

• Today we will talk about the lesser known Raphael whose interventions in the Book of Tobit are a witness to Yahewh’s endearing love and concern for the sufferings of His people of all times.

Saint Raphael the Archangel: Our Patron Saint & Angelic Friend by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

Between the Books of Nehemiah and Judith, we find the endearing, heart-warming, uplifting and inspiring Book of Tobit. Composed of only fourteen short chapters, the story runs smoothly and quickly with simple but profound messages for the whole world and at all times.

The Word of God is like a two-edged sword that pierces bone from marrow. Jesus reminds us that man does not simply live on bread alone but on every word that issues forth from the mouth of God. The Psalmist calls our attention to the fact that the word is a lamp for our feet and a light for our path.

We would like to focus upon one person present in this brilliant Biblical short-story and literary masterpiece — the person of an angel named Raphael. Our prayer and hope is that after reading and prayerfully reflecting upon the Book of Tobit and becoming familiar with this simple and humble composition, that you will be comforted with meeting, knowing, and loving a new friend who already knows you and loves you—the Archangel Raphael.

Indeed, this Archangel greatly desires to walk with you, accompany you in this life so that he will be present with you in heaven, absorbed in the love of the Blessed Trinity for all eternity.

Two Problems & God’s Intervention

The Book of Tobit presents us with two very serious problems from the outset! Two families are suffering excruciating pains that do not seem to have an easy solution.

Problem One:

There are two Tobits — the father and son. The father is a very good man! During a meal, he leaves the table to help to bury the dead. But as it happens, exhausted due to his strenuous work of burying the dead, he falls asleep, but with his eyes open. Unfortunately, birds passing by leave their droppings that fall into his eyes.

To make a long story short, despite the intervention of the doctors and their various remedies, the poor man ends up blind — not able to see the light of day, the color of the rainbow, or the smiling faces of his family members. Imagine his suffering and all because he sacrificed himself to exercise a corporal work of mercy — to bury the dead.

Problem Two:

Not too distant from the residence of the two Tobits lived Sara, a distant relative to the family of Tobit. The suffering of this young woman was beyond limits! Her most earnest desire was to marry a young man and to form a wholesome and God-fearing family. However, the devil, whose name was Asmodeus, intervened in a terrible fashion.

Every time that Sara would marry, on the wedding night Asmodeus would visit the room and slay her new husband, leaving him dead and the poor young woman a widow. This did not happen once or twice, but six times! The end result for Sara was nothing less than total despair! The thought came to her that the best solution would be to hang herself and end her endless misery.

Therefore, we are confronted with two very serious family problems; on a human level, seemingly beyond solution! However, all things are possible for God if there is faith. Indeed, God can even move mountains. God will intervene in a surprising, but very powerful way, not directly, but indirectly through the mediation of one of His chief emissaries—an angel, better yet an Archangel named Raphael. Actually, the translation of “Raphael” could be rendered “Medicine of God” or “God heals”.

In short, God sends Raphael to accompany the younger Tobit to the home of Sara to seal a marriage and avert future tragedies. On the way, Tobit, led by Raphael, walks along the shore of the sea. They grab hold of a fish and cut out the liver of the fish which Raphael insists be brought with them to the home of Sara and her parents!

Upon arriving, Tobit asks for the hand of Sara in Holy Matrimony. Her parents consent to giving up their beautiful daughter, who has suffered so much from having lost her previous six prospect husbands. However, before retiring that night and consummating the marriage, both Sara and Tobit burn some of the gall of the fish—to ward away the evil spirit. But even more important, they both pray that God will protect them and bless their marriage. This being done in the name of God, the two are united in holy matrimony and the evil spirit takes flight. Most likely, the other prospects died because they sought her for lustful motives rather than noble motives of pure love. A great message today for our youth! Thanks be to God and thanks be to the intercession of the Archangel Raphael, “God Heals”, Sara’s problem was brought to a successful conclusion.

Now what about the problem of the elderly blind man — Tobit Sr.? Upon the younger Tobit’s returning from his wedding and arriving home with his wife, accompanied by the Archangel Raphael, the angelic doctor insists on prayer and then taking the fish gall that was used earlier on the wedding night, but this time applying the fish gall to the eyes of the blind father. Accepted with humility and obedience, something consoling happens to the father of Tobit. Something like scales that were covering his eyes peel off, and he is able to see once again. Another major victory and triumph over human evil—sickness, manifested by blindness. How kind, loving and good God truly is!

Therefore, before our eyes, this Biblical passage manifests God’s loving and healing presence in healing two families with almost unsolvable predicaments—blindness and losing a prospective husband. Sadness to the point of despair was transformed into overflowing light for the father’s eyes and un-surpassing joy for the young romantic hearts.

We would invite all of you to choose today a new friend—the Archangel Raphael, “God heals”. We will present a list of the specific areas where this great angel can help you, come to your aid, and lead you on to the path that leads to holiness, happiness, and heaven!

Saint Raphael as the Patron Of…

Travelers.

He led young Tobit safely to the home of his future bride and spouse, Sara. May Raphael accompany us and save us from the many dangers we experience on our journey to heaven.

Future Spouses.

It was Raphael who brought the young Tobit and Sara together as spouses. Today, more than ever, let us consecrate our young people to Raphael so that he might help them make the right decision regarding their marriage vocation. One wrong choice can prove catastrophic. May this Holy Angel give them light and wisdom on this all-important choice!

Purity.

Before they married, the two prayed together, expressing their desire not to marry due to lust, but for the noble purpose of forming a family. May our young people, through the intercession of Saint Raphael, pursue holiness of mind, feelings, body, thought and action!

Happy Meetings.

St. Raphael is the patron of happy meetings or encounters. He was the one that presented the young couple to each other by traveling with Tobit Jr. How often do we have meetings and encounters on a daily basis? How often these encounters start with tensions and end worse?

Why not make it a common practice to invite the Archangel Raphael to be with you in your daily encounters with people. Beyond a shadow of doubt, the meetings will be more peaceful and bear more abundant fruit. Try it!

Joy!

Pope Francis, in his Apostolic Exhortation, The Joy of the Gospel, insists on being missionaries to the whole world, bringing the Good News of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to all people. However, the Pope insists that we cannot be walking around with a funeral face, rather, we must radiate the Joy of the Risen Jesus!

The Archangel Raphael, by his powerful intercession and the will of Almighty God, transformed tragedy and utter despair into overflowing and exultant joy! Blindness into sight, death into the joy of married love! May you choose the Archangel Raphael to be your traveling companion in life and he will preserve you in a constant state of joy of heart. Saint Paul exhorts us: “Rejoice in the Lord; I say again: rejoice in the Lord!” (Phil. 4:4)

Patron of the Eyes.

It was through the intercession of the Archangel Saint Raphael that this poor blind man, Tobit Sr. recovered his sight by the application of the remains of the fish. How important today in our modern society to consecrate our eyes to Saint Raphael, Saint Lucy, and to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

In a pornographic society where so many people are addicted to the impure image — TV, internet, movies, indecent magazines, billboards, etc.—we must have some powerful intervention. May Saint Raphael help us walk on the path of holiness and purity. May he help us avoid the near occasion of sin and help us control our eyes, which are truly the mirror of our soul. Let this great angel help us live out the Beatitude: “Blessed are the pure of heart, for they will see God.” (Mt. 5:8)

Patron of Prayer, Thanks, and Praise.

At the end of this heart-warming story, the Archangel Raphael does not attribute the triumphs and successes to himself. On the contrary, Raphael points to God and praises and thanks God, and then invites Tobit and his family, as well as all our families, all of us together, to render praise and thanksgiving to God who is the author of all good gifts—sight, health, healing, marriages and vocations.

May this Glorious Archangel foster in our hearts an attitude of perpetual gratitude and a desire to constantly praise the good God for all the gifts He has so generously bestowed upon us!

Saint Raphael: Our Joyful Angelic Friend

In conclusion, you are never alone! Starting today, why not embrace your new friend, an angelic friend, Archangel Raphael. Ask him to walk with you, to accompany you, to be with you, to guide and protect you, to fill you with both purity and over-flowing joy. He longs for your friendship. If accepted, he will be your strong and faithful friend on earth in time and for all eternity in heaven.

Saint Raphael, be with us; walk with us; pray for us; be our dear and constant friend!

Copyright 2021 Oblates of the Virgin Mary / St. Peter Chanel Church, Hawaiian Gardens, CA       

Tuesday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time

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

Tuesday, September 28th   Lk 9: 51-56   Alleluia Verse: “The Son of Man came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

• St.  Ignatius of Loyola says the appropriate response to our encounter with the Divine in the Spiritual Exercises is Perpetual Gratitude!
• Jesus did for us what we could not do for ourselves. An infinite offense against an infinite God requires infinite atonement! Adam and Eve’s disobedience in the Garden and the loss of our eternal destiny—heaven was atoned for through the agony, suffering and death on the cross of Jesus Christ, the Son of God made man.
• Ignatius’s gratitude led him to respond with radical generosity. All that he had, his entire person expressed in this prayer:

SUSCIPE…

Take, O Lord, and receive my entire liberty, my memory, my understanding and my will. All that I am and all that I possess, You have given to me. I surrender it all to You to be disposed of according to Your will. Give me only Your love and Your grace, with these I will be rich enough and desire nothing more. Your love and your grace are enough for me.

ATTITUDE OF PERPETUAL GRATITUDE. THE STORY OF THE TEN LEPERS.  (Luke 17: 11-19)

A Biblical passage that elicits profound joy, but at the same time intense sadness, is when Jesus heals the ten men afflicted with the terrible, contagious, terminal, and ugly disease of leprosy—a disease that was highly prevalent in the Biblical times before Jesus and during the lifetime of Jesus on earth.

THE PROFOUND JOY.  Their overflowing joy flows from the fact that the love, mercy, and compassion of Jesus was made manifest with a mere word when He healed these poor men whom society had ostracized and marginalized. As they headed on their way to the priest, their healing was both immediate and total. Can you imagine their exuberant and overflowing joy—this terrible disease gone in an instant??? Still more, imagine the joy of their relatives upon seeing them!

THE INTENSE SORROW OF THE HEART OF JESUS.  Intermingled with the joy of the healed lepers is the surprise and obvious sorrow of Jesus. His words: “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” (Lk. 17:17-18). It is an interesting detail, but of great importance: it is only the foreigner, a Samaritan, who returns, prostrates himself, and profusely thanks Jesus from the depths of his being.

MODERN WORLD: LOSING THE SOCIAL VIRTUES.  We are living in a world in which the social virtues that are the condiment of social existence are being lost, most specifically, the virtue of Gratitude. If you like, we have lost the cultivation of an Attitude of Gratitude. Two of the key phrases to condiment and embellish social existence are the following: Please and Thank You! Another two, related to the virtue of humility, are: I’m Sorry and I Forgive You!

WISDOM ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE.

The famous Dominican scholar and mystic, Meister Eckhart, asserted: “If the only prayer we said was Thank You, that would be enough.”

In Shakespeare’s tragedy, Macbeth, we read: “More painful than a serpent’s tooth is that of an ungrateful child.”

The Psalmist invites all to render thanks in these words: “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His mercy endures forever.” (Ps 136:1)

The great Apostle to the Gentiles, Saint Paul, stated: “Give thanks to God on all occasions.” (1 Thess. 5:18)

The Master, the Lord Jesus Himself, while at the Last Supper and in the context of the institution of the Eucharist, took bread and gave thanks. Not a surprise that the word Eucharist actually means “Thanksgiving”. (Mt. 26:26)

Every year, on the fourth Thursday of the month in November, families in the United States come together to share a sumptuous meal, but even more important, the families come together to celebrate one of the most important Holidays and that is Thanksgiving Day. On this day especially, families should recall the abundant gifts they have received from the bounteous hands of a loving and generous God and render copious thanks!

Therefore, it is more than appropriate that we offer a heartfelt hymn of praise and thanksgiving as we enumerate reasons and purposes why thanksgiving should flow spontaneously and profusely from our grateful hearts. The list could be endless, but we would invite all to give thanks in ten specific areas where gratitude indeed is merited. May this humble and brief reflection serve as a springboard to bolster and strengthen your own personal prayer life! “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; for His mercy endures forever.” (Ps 136:1) May this prayer of the Psalmist resonate in the depths of our hearts!

1. THE GIFT OF LIFE.  Jesus said: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” (Jn 14:6) He also said: “I have come that you may have life and life in abundance.” (Jn 10:10) One of the greatest gifts that the Author of all life has given to us is Life! Let us constantly thank God for our life, and use all the gifts that flow from our life to praise and glorify God and save souls! More than 60 million babies have been deprived of life since the Supreme Court decision Roe vs. Wade, Jan 22, 1973. We thank our mothers for saying YES to life! Let us promote life! A suggestion: if possible, view the movie GOSNEL. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, this movie will motivate you to be more grateful for your gift of life and to be a zealous defender of life from the moment of conception until natural death. Another powerful pro-life movie to see is UNPLANNED. This movie is a great encouragement to keep fighting for the life of the unborn.

2. EYES TO CONTEMPLATE THE BEAUTY OF GOD’S CREATION.  When was the last time you thanked God for the gift of your eyes, the wonderful gift of sight, so as to contemplate the beauty of His creation? Imagine that you are a blind person. If you are willing, spend one day with your eyes blind-folded, such that you can see nothing – no person nor any gift of nature. Undoubtedly, the following day when you wake up and look out at the sun rising, painting the sky with its majestic beauty, you will appreciate the gift of your sight all the more fully.

3. SUPERNATURAL LIFE.  Probably most of the readers of this essay have received the extraordinary, unmerited, and gratuitous gift of the Sacrament of Baptism that entails many blessings. Baptism transforms us into sons and daughters of God, brothers and sisters to Jesus our older Brother, intimate Friends with the Holy Spirit, and living Tabernacles of the Blessed Trinity. For this intimate relationship that starts with the Sacrament of Baptism, and the many other spiritual gifts we receive, we lift up our hearts in humble gratitude. Let us strive to live out our Baptismal commitment!

4. FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS.  None of us can say with absolute sincerity that we have the best of parents, relatives, or friends; nor can we honestly affirm that we have been the best of any of the above. Nonetheless, we should spend time thanking God abundantly for the many persons that He has so generously placed on our path as a bridge to God Himself. If you like the image, let us not be remiss in thanking God for having placed, so to speak, Good Samaritans on the highway of our life leading us to our eternal home – heaven! May our hearts overflow in gratitude for the good people that God has put in our path!

5. HEALTH.  Normally as the years whirl by, our health declines. As one of my dear relatives used to say with a smirk on his face: “You arrive at a certain age when your body starts to fall apart a piece at a time.” Still, we should thank God for the years of health He has given us, the years of health we have enjoyed and possibly still enjoy. As the poet expressed so succinctly: “I complained because I had no shoes, until I met someone who had no feet.” In other words, every day we bump into people who have less than us in so many respects, not the least of these being health. Let us thank God for what we have now!

6. THE MOST HOLY EUCHARIST.  Never will we be able to thank the Lord Jesus enough for having instituted the most sublime Gift of the most Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper, which was actually the First Mass. The simple fact that the Church allows all those who have made their First Communion and are in the state of sanctifying grace to receive Holy Communion on a daily basis is glorious! In the Diary: Divine Mercy in My Soul, Saint Faustina states that the angels have a holy envy of us, because they cannot receive the sublime Gift of Holy Communion, but we can! The word Eucharist means Thanksgiving! “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His mercy endures forever.” (Ps 136:1)

7. HEAVEN AWAITS US.  Of enormous importance is the firm faith and belief that our life on earth is ephemeral; it is very short. As the Psalmist reminds us: “We are like the flower of the field that rises in the morning and withers and dies as the sun goes down.” (Ps 90:6) But if we persevere in our love for God until the end, then heaven awaits us! None of us can imagine the greatness of heaven! Saint Paul expresses this clearly: “Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has it entered into the mind of man the wonderful things that God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Cor 2:9) Life can be tough, but our joy and happiness in heaven is right around the corner, and it is eternal!

8. HIS INFINITE MERCY.  As a result of Original Sin, we are all weak and prone to fall into sin. The Bible states this clearly: “The just man falls seven times a day.” (Prov 24:16) This should never be a reason to give in to sadness, much less despair. As so beautifully exemplified in the greatest story ever told by the greatest storyteller, Jesus the Lord, in the Parable of the Prodigal Son or Merciful Father, God’s loving arms and merciful Heart are always open ready to receive us. We just have to say “I’m sorry” and express our sorrow in the Sacrament of Confession. And as the Prophet Isaiah expresses in these most consoling words: “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” (Is 1:18)

9. FRIENDS ALWAYS READY TO LEND A HAND.  We are not living as orphans, as abandoned children, nor are we bereft of help in time of need. Not only is God our Heavenly Father, and Jesus our Older Brother, but we also have a cloud of witnesses in Heaven who are praying for us, encouraging us, and cheering us on to victory. Of course these are the angels and the saints. Indeed, they are God’s close friends, but they are our friends also! In any time, place, or circumstance in which we find ourselves, we can call out to these good and faithful friends—the angels and saints—and they will run to our rescue and help us in countless ways. To be Catholic is to live in a family. The Communion of Saints is part of our family fabric and structure!!!

10. MARY OUR MOTHER: OUR LIFE, OUR SWEETNESS, AND OUR HOPE.  Our attitude of gratitude would be incomplete if we did not thank God for having given us a heavenly Mother, Mary most holy. Mary is the Mother of God, she is the Mother of the Church, but also, Mary is the Mother of each and every one of us. She is my Mother and your Mother. She is also, as we pray in the Hail Holy Queen, “Our life, our sweetness, and our hope.”

Therefore, as we come to the closure of our sharing on cultivating an Attitude of Gratitude, let us beg for the grace to imitate the one leper who ran back to Jesus, prostrated himself before Jesus who healed him, and rendered Jesus abundant thanks! Lord Jesus, thank you, thank you, thank you!“Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His mercy endures forever.” (Ps 136:1)