Memorial of Saint Vincent de Paul, Priest

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

Monday, September 27th   Lk 9: 46-50   “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest.”

Part One: From Humility to Mercy… by St. Bernard of Clairvaux

Part Two: To Serve is to Reign; To Reign is to Serve by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

PART ONE… From Humility to Mercy… by St. Bernard of Clarivaux

When in the light of Truth men know themselves and so think less of themselves it will certainly follow that what they loved before will now become bitter to them. They are brought face to face with themselves and blush at what they see.

Their present state is no pleasure to them. They aspire to something better and at the same time realize how little they can rely on themselves to achieve it! It hurts them and they find some relief in judging themselves severely. Love of truth makes them hunger and thirst after justice, and conceive a deep contempt for themselves.

They are anxious to exact from themselves full satisfaction and real amendment. They admit that to make satisfaction is beyond their own powers – when they have done all that is commanded them they acknowledge that they are still unprofitable servants.

They fly from justice to mercy, by the road Truth shows them: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. (Mt 5:7) They look beyond their own needs to the needs of their neighbors and from the things they themselves have suffered they learn compassion. 

PART TWO… To Serve is to Reign; To Reign is to Serve… by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

We are building upon the solid structure of the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Principle and Foundation: We were created to praise God, to reverence God, and to serve God, and by this means to save our soul. Jesus makes it very clear in Matthew 25: 31-46 that whatever we do to the least of our brothers and sisters, we do to Him! In other words, Principle and Foundation challenges us to go out of our comfort zone, to leave our security blanket, to step out of the boat into the cold water at the Lord’s command so that we can truly serve! May Mary, the humble servant of the Lord, assist us in our true vocation—the vocation that leads to heaven—the vocation of authentic service!

BIBLICAL REFERENCES ON THE VOCATIONAL CALL TO SERVE.

1. SATAN—THE ANTITHESIS OF SERVICE. 

It must be said that Satan/Lucifer raised his voice in a clarion call of rebellion against the will of Almighty God with a resounding No to obeying God—Non Serviam!!! I will not serve God. From which a battle ensued against these rebellious angels, who due to their own free-will and determination decided that they would not serve God, or obey God, or submit to His holy will. God marshalled forth Saint Michael the Archangel, the Prince of the Heavenly Hosts, whose name means who is like unto God. The rebellious angels, transformed into hideous and horrendous devils, were expelled from heaven and cast into the fiery pit of hell. (Read Is 14:1-32 – the morning star, son of dawn is Satan/Lucifer; Rev 12 Fall of the Angels – the dragon is Satan/Lucifer and his angels.) In sum, all of the tragedies started, and still start when there is a failure to serve God, a failure to obey God, a failure to submit one’s will to the will of our Lord God, Father and Creator! Sometimes, due to concupiscence and the effects of Original Sin, we battle within our own divided hearts whether or not to submit our will in obedience and service to our Heavenly Father.

2. OUR LADY’S YES TO GOD AND SERVICE. 

There could not be a more marked and significant contrast than the Non Serviam (I will not serve) of Satan/Lucifer and the Yes of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Listen to the invitation by the Archangel Gabriel to obey God, to submit her will to the will of God, and to serve God. Mary gives her total consent to the will of the Heavenly Father and becomes, among her many beautiful titles, the Humble Servant of the Lord. Mary’s Yes to God to be His humble servant in all times and places radically transformed the world. Mary said to God through the intermediation of the Archangel Gabriel: “Behold, I am the handmaid (the servant) of the Lord, be it done to me according to thy will.” (Lk 1:38) As a result of Mary’s Yes, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” (Jn 1:14) It is incumbent upon us, in imitation of Mary and her powerful intercession, to give our Yes to God in service. If this is done, we are truly living out Principle and Foundation in our lives in the realm of the universal call to service! May the example and prayers of Mary come to our aid!

3. SERVING IN TWO COMPLIMENTARY WAYS: MARTHA & MARY. (Lk 10: 38-42)

At times Jesus would stop in Bethany to visit three of his good friends, two sisters, and their brother: Mary, Martha and Lazarus. Jesus enjoyed their friendship immensely. On one occasion, Jesus is in their home in Bethany, a town close to the city of Jerusalem. Mary and Martha are present to Jesus but in different ways. Martha is busy with the details of hospitality; we can imagine cleaning, preparing the meal, arranging the table, etc. Mary is simply sitting at the feet of Jesus. What is she doing? Listening to the words of Jesus, talking to Him, possibly asking Him questions, gazing at Jesus, and simply loving the Lord as her Best-Friend. Tense, nervous and somewhat frustrated, Martha asks Jesus to tell Mary to help her. But Jesus comes to the defense of Mary with these words: “Martha, Martha, you are worried about many things; Mary for her part has chosen the only thing necessary and she will not be deprived of it.” (Lk 10: 41,42)

With respect to our call to serve in consideration of Principle and Foundation, this passage with Mary and Martha teaches us a very important lesson: like Martha we are called to serve Jesus and to serve others, very true! However, we should be very careful that we do not to fall into the modern heresy of Activism, or as Pope Saint John Paul II called it Horizontalism, or as Pope Leo XIII termed it Americanism; or if you like, the danger of being transformed into the so called Workaholic! We must serve our brothers and sisters. However, we must never place serving them over giving God our first-fruits, giving God our best. In this same chapter, Lk 10: 25-37, a man asks Jesus what is the greatest of all the commandments. Jesus responds with a question: “What is written in the Law?” The man answers, from the Great Shema of the Old Testament: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and love your neighbor as yourself.” In sum, as we delve deeper into Principle and Foundation in our lives, we should examine our conscience—step back and examine our lives to see if we have a bit of the Martha in us, the Activism / Horizontalism / Workaholic tendency… to the detriment of our worship and praise of God. We are definitely called to serve our brothers and sisters, but we are always to put God first, in the very center of our lives. Remember, as creatures of God we are called first to praise God, then comes service of our neighbor. We must perform both, but in the proper order.

4. MT 25: 31-46. OUR FINAL JUDGMENT—BASED ON LOVE & SERVICE. HOW WILL YOU FARE???

Once again, going deeper into the topic of service, we visit and meditate upon the last Parable that Jesus gives us in the Gospel of Matthew 25: 31-46—The Parable of the Last Judgment. The Son of Man, Jesus, will separate the people from one another, as the Shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left, representing the saved and damned. Our final judgment and eternal destination will depend on our love for God, but manifested by the love that we show towards our brothers and sisters in need. Jesus could not speak with greater clarity: “Whatsoever you did for the least of my brothers, that you did for me.” (Mt 25: 31-40) Examine your Principle and Foundation, and the key term in this meditation—Service related to the way you are living out the classical Corporal Works of Mercy. How do you fare? For Jesus, love and service are almost interchangeable! Examine your life! Let us take these six Corporal Works of Mercy!

1) “I was hungry and you gave me to eat…” Have you fed the hungry at home or outside your home, anywhere where there has been an opportunity? Saint Mother Teresa, Saint Vincent de Paul, Saint Katherine Drexel, Saint Alberto Hurtado, Saint John Bosco, Saint Joseph Cottolengo and countless other saints saw Jesus in the hungry. To live out Principle and Foundation on Service, how can you feed the hungry?

2) “I was thirsty and you gave me to drink…” From the cross Jesus cried out: “I thirst!” (Jn 19:28) At the well, Jesus asked the Samaritan woman: “Give me to drink!” (Jn 4: 7) In the Parable of Dives and Lazarus (Lk 16:19-31): Dives, the rich man failed to give the poor man, Lazarus, food and drink and consequently Dives suffered the loss of his soul. How can you live out Principle and Foundation, especially Service by slaking the thirst of those around you? Inscribed above the altars on the walls of the sisters of Mother Teresa, Missionaries of Charity, are the words that Jesus uttered from the cross, I THIRST!

3) “I was naked and you clothed me…” Naked can be interpreted as lacking or in need of various things. Many lack dignity, respect, care, concern, compassion, someone to talk to, learning/education, doctrine/catechism, knowledge of the faith. And literally, there are people who lack proper food, clothing and housing. What is your response to the cry of Jesus in the poor of the world? How can you serve the naked? Remember that the conversion of Saint Martin of Tours was triggered by a Roman soldier cutting his cape in half so as to share his cape with a poor man who was half-naked and shivering, lying on the hard, cold ground! Pray over this: how can you alleviate the plight of the many naked of the world; this too is living out Principle and Foundation and our vocation or call to Serve!!!

4) “I was a foreigner and you welcomed me…” Jesus, Mary and Saint Joseph were foreigners; they were exiled immigrants in Egypt. Many of us are immigrants or come from parents or relatives who were immigrants. Remember the Golden Rule and the call to live out Principle and Foundation in Service— “Do to others what you would want others to do to you!” (Mt 7:12) Jesus is present in these people: the lonely, the poor, the neglected, the forgotten, the ostracized, the insulted and misunderstood, the marginalized, the immigrant, the homeless, the deaf and the mute. Remember the words of Jesus, our Lord and Savior: “The Son of man has not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life in ransom for many.” (Mt 20:28) We will be judged on the way we treat and serve others in imitation of Our Lord Jesus, our model.

5) “I was sick and you visited me…” We all know from personal experience how difficult it is to suffer. We all know from experience how challenging and hard it truly is to be sick. Many of us know how hard it is to spend time, days or even weeks in a hospital bed. But at the same time, we all know how consoling, comforting, encouraging and supportive it is when God places a Good Samaritan in our path to help us in our sickness. A kind word and  sympathetic gesture—a warm smile, an extended hand or a hug, a fervent prayer—all of these are gestures that can lift us from the valley of tears and darkness to the mountain-peak of hope. By caring for the sick we are living out Principle and Foundation in Service! It is said, “To serve is to reign, and to reign is to serve.”  

6) “I was in prison and you came to visit me…” Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen on one occasion made a visit to a Prison. He had the opportunity to talk to close to 1000 inmates. He made this startling comment: “We are all prisoners in one way or another. The only difference between you prisoners and me is that you got caught and I did not!” What the saintly Archbishop was really saying is the fact that all of us are sinners, all of us are at times prisoners of our own immoral slaveries. The fact that we are not incarcerated in some County Jail is the grace of God. Saint Philip Neri, seeing a man lying in the gutters of Rome commented: “There go I, save the grace of God.” We are all capable of the most heinous of crimes, commented Saint Therese, the Little Flower, if God’s grace did not sustain us, support us and protect us! Saint Therese also commented with great humility: “The only reason why I did not commit the most heinous of crimes was because God cleared the path for me.” Take a step back and look at your life, at your social milieu, at the people that God places in your path and beg for the grace to recognize those who are really in prison. Maybe you know someone who is a slave to some vice—Drinking, Porn, Drugs, Gambling and Casinos, Compulsive Buying. These people are the modern prisoners; they are prisoners and slaves of their own passions, of their own sins. With respect to Principle and Foundation and once again Service, what can you do to help these people? What can you do to set the captives free??? Or maybe even this is you or me! Let us beg God’s help!

May the Lord Jesus, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the saints help us to look into our lives and become aware of the many opportunities that God offers us to serve Him in those whom we meet—those with whom we live, and work, and bump shoulders with. These people are really Jesus in disguise.

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

Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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

Sunday, September 26th   Mk 9: 38-43, 45, 47-48   “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.”

• Parents are to be Good Shepherds of their sheep. However, most people have children in their lives in one way or another. For this reason, Fr. Ed’s exhortation has applications for all of us. We are all responsible to help save our children! Let each of us prayerfully consider how we can put this meditation into practice!

10 WAYS TO PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN LIKE THE GOOD SHEPHERD by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

A Good Shepherd is intent on protecting his sheep from the ravenous wolves on the prowl. Such a shepherd knows where the wolves come from, when they attack, and how they attack. An authentic Good Shepherd is even willing to lay down his own life for the safety of the sheep, whereas the hired hand abandons the sheep and runs away when he sees the wolf coming to attack. (Jn 10:1-18)

Of course, the best model in the world of the Good Shepherd is Jesus. He says the Good Shepherd is willing to lay down His life and die for the sheep entrusted to His care. The welfare of the sheep supersedes and transcends the value of the Shepherd Himself. Jesus’ death on the cross on Good Friday is the most eloquent proof of the love of the Good Shepherd for the sheep under His care. The Precious Blood that Jesus shed on the cross shows most clearly and convincingly His limitless love for His sheep.

Never have we lived in a world where there are so many wolves on the prowl to attack, bite, devour and kill the sheep of our flock—that is to say our children and teens! Therefore, parents must be in training formation so as to be able to protect their children from these prowling wolves.

We would like to offer a spiritual strategy and plan that could be of great use to help us be the Good Shepherds that Jesus our Good Shepherd wants us to be.

1. Introduce Your Children to Mary

Parents should provide for and procure the baptism of their child as soon as possible. With the Baptism, in the same ceremony, they should consecrate their child to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. This can be done in a very simple way, in which the child is brought before an image, painting, or statue of Mother Mary and presented through a prayer to Mary—such as the Hail Mary, or the Hail Holy Queen, or the Memorare.

One of the special intentions will be to protect their child from the ravenous wolves that are on the prey to attack and kill. In our spiritual battle we should prepare for war as soon as possible, and be well safeguarded and protected by a strong sacramental life and by Mary, whose prayers and protection are most powerful.

2. Have Family Prayer

Family prayer is of the essence. Parents are the first educators of their children especially in the path of faith and love for God. One of the essential elements of our faith is prayer.

With respect to prayer, parents should faithfully carry out three fundamental tasks:

1) Pray for the protection, welfare and salvation of their children.

2) Parents should teach their children to pray and as early as possible. Children are like sponges; they absorb—either good or bad. The other day I listened to one of my relatives—a child only two years of age—recite the Creed! This is a sign of good parents working at a very tender age with their little one. Let us not underestimate the capacity and potentiality of the child. Jesus said: “Let the little children come to me.” (Mt 19:14)

3) Finally, parents should pray with their children. The Rosary is a prayer most pleasing to Jesus and Mary. How often have we heard: “The family that prays together, stays together!” (Servant of God Father Patrick Peyton)

3. Control the Electronics World

Parents, as Good Shepherds of their flock, must strive to control the use of the electronics world in the lives of their children. Television, movies, magazines, but most especially the use of the internet must be supervised constantly by the parents.

As daunting a task as this may seem, still this is the responsibility of parents in order to be Good Shepherds of their flock. Allowing free access and use of the Internet for children and teens has proven catastrophic in too many cases. The number one addiction in the USA is pornography—the abuse of the electronics world, specifically the internet.

How true this sage proverb: “Better preventive medicine, than curative medicine.”

4. Live the Sabbath Day with Your Family

Sunday is the Lord’s Day and it should be lived fully and properly according to God’s plan, which includes Sunday Mass. But besides participating in Mass, Sunday is also a family day!

After attending the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and receiving Holy Communion together, it is time to enjoy family time and bond with family members. How? Have a good meal together. Then go to the park and play together, rest together, and just enjoy each others’ company. Take a nature walk and thank God for the beauty of His creation. Visit an elderly or sick person who is abandoned, thereby giving this person joy and hope. At night have a pizza party and watch a good movie together to work on the spiritual formation of your children, and then after the movie share the values that were transmitted.

Finally, to end the day, pray the family Rosary together. This is the way to live out the Sabbath rest and to bond emotionally with family members.

5. Encourage Good Friends

The Bible teaches us that a good friend is indeed a great treasure beyond price. The poet John Donne says that no man is an island unto himself. Aristotle says that man is a social animal. Jesus Himself willed to enter the world in a family and to choose the Apostles whom He called friends.

We all need friends, or at least one good friend. However, parents must be very careful and judicious in watching over the choice of friends that their children desire. One bad friend can ruin their lives. Indeed, we should define what a good friend really is, as opposed to pseudo (false) friend. As followers of Jesus the Good Shepherd, a true friend is someone who brings us closer to Jesus, who is our Best Friend. This should always be our first criteria!

6. Avoid Idleness

Saint John Bosco had a dreaded fear every year for his young students during the vacation months. He was aware of the many temptations that young people are exposed to when they have too much free time on their hands.

It is so true: if we have nothing to do, then the devil will give us a lot to do! Look at the sin of David who committed adultery and then murder. One of the principal reasons for David falling into sin was that he had a block of free time and no plans.

Good parents and Good Shepherds of their flock should always have their children engaged in wholesome and enriching activities. We should always be busy—but not nervously frenetic and agitated.

We can be engaged in three ways: physically, mentally, or spiritually. Sports for young people are invaluable for keeping the body occupied in a wholesome manner. The habit of reading good books so as to cultivate the mind will never be regretted. A strong and holy mind can do limitless good for the society; take these saints—Aquinas, John Paul II and Augustine as examples!

Finally, spiritual activity is of paramount importance. On holidays and during vacation time, parents may have time to take their children to daily Mass and receive Holy Communion, the Bread of Life and the strength of the saints and martyrs!

7. Value Communication

Busy work schedules, paying the bills, shopping for groceries, being caught in traffic jams, all of the above characterize modern life and sometimes can serve as an excuse to neglect a very important component of family life—parents’ dialogue and communication with their children. The modern man, woman, teen, child unfortunately spends more time in front of a screen than in front of a human person.

In the eyes of God, the human person has infinitely more value than all of the material objects in the world. Many young people today are addicted to the internet and all that is involved in the electronics world. In a certain sense we can say that many young people live more in a fantasy world than in a real world.

Parents, for the love of God and the future of your children, find time to talk to and listen to your children. This is your responsibility.

8. Remember Joy, the Great Medicine

One of the many fruits of the Holy Spirit is that of JOY! Parents should strive to cultivate an environment of Joy in their homes. The family milieu should have an aroma and ambiance of Joy so that after school the children do not dread returning home—as if it were a jail or penitentiary—but rather look forward to coming home as a place of joy, peace, harmony and wholesome rest.

Many young people have recourse to premarital sex, drinking, and drugs because there is no festive, welcoming and joyful family environment. Beg the Holy Spirit for the grace to experience Joy and share it with your children. Saint Paul exhorts us: “Rejoice in the Lord always; I say it again: rejoice in the Lord.” (Phil. 4:4)

9. Abide in Mercy

The English poet Alexander Pope coined an immortal saying that all of us should memorize and live: “To err is human; to forgive is divine.” Only God is perfect; the just man falls seven times a day.

The family is a school of virtues and a school of forgiveness. We can all hurt family members by our words, gestures, silence, inattentiveness, and at times crude selfishness. However, that which can really tear down families is failing to forgive while fostering resentments and bitterness against other family members.

Jesus’ last commandment was: “Love one another as I have loved you.”(Jn 15:12) Jesus also said: “Be merciful as your heavenly Father is merciful.” (Lk 6:36) Finally, in the most famous prayer in the world, the Our Father, we pray: “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

Starting today, right now, let us reconcile with each other and foster family peace, harmony and love.

10. “Rejoice With Those Who Rejoice and Weep With Those Who Weep”

Saint Paul enjoins us in these words! The family should cultivate what the athletes call team work. A successful team rejoices together in the success of one team member and suffers at the failure of one team member. When a team wins a game or championship it is not the victory of one member, but of all the members playing and working together towards the same goal.

Likewise, whenever one family member triumphs—morally or spiritually, physically or intellectually—all the members of the family should rejoice in this victory. Jealousy and envy can kill. Rejoicing in love is what builds up and triumphs!

Conclusion

In conclusion, the family today is surrounded by a pack of ravenous wolves that desire to attack and destroy. It is up to the parents, the Good Shepherds of the flock entrusted to their care, to do all in their ability to protect, preserve and save their children. The key to being a Good Shepherd to the sheep in our care is that we must first be a good sheep of the Good Shepherd, Jesus the Lord. “The Lord is my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall lack.” (Psalm 23:1)

Saturday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time

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

Saturday, September 25th   Lk. 9: 43b-45   “Pay attention to what I am telling you. The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.”

• Jesus is preparing the Apostles for His suffering and death on the cross. They don’t understand and they are fearful. Jesus predicts His death at least three times in the Synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
• On this Saturday, Mary’s Day, we can wonder how much Mary knew and understood about Jesus’ Passion and death.
• Surely during the three months before the birth of John the Baptist, Mary and Elizabeth would have poured over the Jewish Scriptures about the coming Messiah. Isaiah’s suffering servant for one:

“Surely he took up our pain
    and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
    stricken by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
    and by his wounds we are healed.”  (Is. 53:4-6)

• The Seven Sorrows devotion dates back to the fourteenth century. Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows, appeared to St. Bridget of Sweden and revealed this devotion to her.
• Let us console Mary by praying and meditating on her Seven Sorrows, 1) with great love for our Savior, who for our sins suffered and died on the cross, and was buried for three days before rising from the dead, and 2) with great love for Mary, Jesus’ Mother and our own dear Mother in the order of grace, who willingly suffered in her heart all that Jesus suffered in His body that we might have eternal life.

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

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

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

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

1. Prophecy of Simeon—A sword will pierce your heart!

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

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

4. Mary Meets Jesus on the Way Up Calvary—Mary’s eyes meet the eyes of Jesus as He carries His cross up Calvary.

5. Crucifixion of Jesus—Mary stands at the foot of the cross witnessing the crucifixion of her Beloved Son.

6. Lowering of Jesus into Mary’s Arms—Now dead, the lifeless Body of Jesus is lowered into the arms of His Mother, Mary.

7. Burial of Jesus—Separation of Jesus and Mary with the burial of Jesus.

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

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

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

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

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

4. JESUS MEETS MARY ON THE WAY OF THE CROSS.  As Jesus climbs Calvary on the way to His crucifixion, He meets His Mother Mary. A concrete manner in which to console Mary is to imitate Jesus in carrying your crosses. However, with this important stipulation: share your crosses with Mary first. The mere presence of Mary 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 their mother, talk to Mary about these crosses. She is very interested in helping you carry your crosses with faith, trust, and love. Often your crosses seem overwhelming; they are just too heavy, thorny, and splintery to carry because you are trying to carry them by yourself, without inviting Mary to help you! We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

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

6. JESUS PLACED IN THE ARMS OF MARY.  The artist Michelangelo depicted this masterfully in the famous Pieta. The film producer, Mel Gibson presented this in the movie The Passion of the Christ in a most powerful and moving fashion. How can we console the Heart of Mary? To love Jesus is to love Mary; they are inseparable! The suffering Body of Jesus is present in His Mystical Body, the Church. In a most powerful and special way, the Body of Christ comes to us in the greatest of all the Sacraments, the most Holy Eucharist within the context of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The greatest single gesture that we can 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. Nobody ever received Jesus with greater love than the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

7. JESUS TAKEN FROM MARY AND BURIED IN THE TOMB. In this last of the seven sorrows, we witness the separation of Jesus and Mary when Jesus is placed in the tomb and buried. Without a doubt, one of the best ways we can console and rejoice the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary is to beg Mary for the grace to die daily to sin—the greatest evil that exists! Then, of greatest importance, beg Mary for the grace of a holy and happy death. By constantly praying to Mary the Hail Mary and the Holy Rosary, with Mary’s help we are preparing ourselves for the most important moment in our life: the very moment that we die! This will determine our eternal destiny—eternal salvation or eternal loss. We trust that through Mary’s prayers we will attain eternal salvation. May this be our prayer every night, and the moment we die:  Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I give you my heart and my soul. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, make my heart like unto thine. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, assist me in my last agony. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I breathe forth my soul unto thee. O Sacrament most holy, O Sacrament divine, all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine!

Friday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time

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

Friday, September 24th   Lk. 9: 18-22   “Who do you say that I am?”

• Who is Jesus to me? My Lord and my God? Emmanuel – God with us? Savior? Light of the World? Good Shepherd? Bread of Life? The friend who will never fail us? Prayerfully consider, who is Jesus to me right now?
• Next consider, who am I to Jesus? Jesus came to save us. Many different people are represented in the Passion of Christ. How many can we identify with?

DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN THE CHARACTERS OF THE PASSION? By Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen presented the meditation of the Passion of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in more than one way. Two of the most noteworthy ways that Sheen presented the Passion of Christ were the following:

1) A profound meditation and reflection on “The Seven Last Words of Jesus from the cross.”

2) Sheen also presented a masterpiece of depicting the Characters of the Passion. Sheen portrays the different attitudes, profiles, virtues or vices of the many people who were involved in the Passion, suffering and death of Jesus on the cross.

“The Characters in the Passion of Christ” can definitely serve as a means for an excellent examination of conscience for each and every one of us. Most certainly, we will be able to discover and identify ourselves with many of the characteristics of the characters in the passion—some positive and worthy of praise, others negative and worthy of repudiation.

Therefore, let us enter with courage into the Passion of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ by both meditating on and contemplating the characters or persons who were involved in the Passion and death of Our Lord. Hopefully, we will be deemed among the loyal friends of Jesus, those who brought deep consolation to His wounded and bleeding Heart.

We will examine a few of the characters in the Passion of Christ. Our short essay is not exhaustive, but it will give us at least a taste of the wide gamut of personalities of those who were present at the death of Jesus; it will portray different attitudes that will touch us in many ways and quite possibly motivate us to conversion!

Characters in the Passion of the Lord Jesus

1. KING HEROD

Jesus was shuffled to the presence of King Herod and his court. In the presence of Herod, Jesus never opened His mouth to answer his questions. This wicked King represents a sensualist, a hedonist, a man given over to the desires of the flesh. Jesus would not open His mouth because He would have only been mocked, derided and ridiculed all the more. With these types of people Jesus would assert: “Do not throw your pearls to the swine.” (Mt 7:6)

Today there are many sensual, hedonistic people who have given themselves over totally to the desires of the flesh! Jesus said to Nicodemus: “The flesh profits nothing; it is the spirit that gives life.” (Jn 3: 5-6)

2. PONTIUS PILATE

This Roman Procurator represents many today. Basically, Pilate represents the typical coward. Claudia, his wife, had a dream of the innocence of Jesus. Pilate discarded this element of truth. He wanted to please the crowd. Pilate was “a people pleaser more than a God pleaser!”

How often do we act and react so as to please people, to be liked and applauded by people to our detriment, meanwhile rejecting God’s will and displeasing the Lord? Often human respect goes beyond respect for God!

3. PHARISEE, SCRIBES AND SADDUCEES

Many of those who rejected Jesus and clamored for Jesus’ condemnation represent intellectual pride. These were the intelligentsia—the educated and Biblically erudite group. They were the spiritual know-it-alls. Being confronted with a humble, less educated carpenter from Nazareth who was like a magnet, attracting countless masses by His words and deeds, was too much for them.

Really, it was their intellectual pride and envy that blinded them from being able to see, recognize, and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior! How many people today are blinded from knowing and accepting the Truth due to intellectual pride!

4. THE MULTITUDES WATCHING JESUS

Many in this group are symbolic of the group of the Curious! Many people look for novelty, innovations, and fads to titillate and scintillate their curiosity. How perilous it is for those who live only for the excitement and fireworks of the moment. How true the saying: “Curiosity killed the cat!”

5. “CRUCIFY HIM!”

Then there are those in the world who actually have a mortal hatred for Jesus and all that pertains to God. The Sadducees, the chief priests who later will also stand beneath the cross, and the crowd—all standing before Pilate, cried out: Crucify Him!

There exists today a growing number of individuals who cultivate a diabolic hatred for Jesus and all that pertains to God! Their numbers in the modern world continue to grow!

6. SIMON OF CYRENE

Returning from the work in the fields, Simon of Cyrene was compelled by the soldiers to help Jesus carry the cross. At first Simon resisted and sought to avoid carrying the cross. But once he accepted the carrying of the cross, not only did he conform himself to the task, but he actually wanted to help Jesus.

Maybe this is you and me: at the outset we flee from the cross, but once accepted, we find the yoke is easy and the burden is light. (Mt 11:30)

7. VERONICA

This valiant woman broke through the crowd and wiped the Sacred Face of Jesus with her veil. Jesus recompensed Veronica by allowing the impression of His Holy Face to be impressed on the veil. Are we courageous in going out of our way to help those who are suffering and in need?

8. THE EXECUTIONERS—WHO NAILED JESUS TO THE CROSS

Although this may be painful to accept, every time we give consent to committing a mortal sin, in a real sense, we are responsible for the Crucifixion of Jesus, for the nails penetrating His hands and feet. However, by making a good Confession, we extract the nails and allow the Risen Jesus to walk!

9. THE SOLDIERS BENEATH THE CROSS—THE DICE!

Then there were the soldiers beneath the cross as Jesus hung on the cross in mortal agony. They were shooting dice to see who could claim the garments of Jesus. These, with many in the crowd who were watching, represent an attitude of Indifference and Apathy. 

All too many today manifest an indifferent, apathetic, distant attitude or posture towards the Lord Jesus. The Book of Revelation forcefully condemns this attitude in the earth-shaking words: “You are neither hot nor cold—I wish you were—but since you are lukewarm, I will vomit you out of my mouth.” (Rev 3:15-16)

Sad to say, there are huge numbers of so called Catholic-Christians who manifest this attitude of apathy, indifference, and lukewarmness towards the Lord, the Sacraments, and the Church. Perhaps we belong to this group. If so, it is time for us to change!

10. THE BAD THIEF

Despite the good example of Jesus and His noble example of mercy and compassion—“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Lk 23:24), the bad thief ends his life by cursing Jesus. He even had the good example and conversion of his companion thief, but still he died with a cold, callous and cruel heart! There are those who, despite the many graces sent to them by God, simply become more hardened and callous. May God save us!

11. THE GOOD THIEF

On the other side of the coin, next to Jesus on the cross, we encounter the good thief.

He ends his life by repenting and begging Jesus for mercy. Always ready to forgive and pour out His mercy, Jesus opens Heaven to this repentant thief, with these most consoling words:

“Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Lk 23:43) And as Sheen reminds us: “He died a thief because he stole Heaven.” Salvation is possible even up to the last moment of life for those who repent!

12. THE CENTURION WHO PIERCED THE SIDE AND HEART OF JESUS

After thrusting the sword through the side and Heart of Jesus as He hung on the cross, the Centurion came to believe! He confessed: “Truly this man was the Son of God!” (Mk 15: 39) The Blood and water that gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus remains an infinite source of conversion and salvation!

13. MARY MAGDALENE

Having lived a sinful life of promiscuity, Magdalene was converted by the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. At the foot of the cross, hugging the cross with tear-streaked face and disheveled hair, Magdalene showed her genuine love and devotion for Jesus. Sheen stated that Magdalene represents the true Penitent. All are called to repent and believe. Perhaps there is still something resembling the Magdalene in us, needing repentance?

14. ST. JOHN THE BELOVED

Sheen depicts St. John standing beneath the cross as representing a priest. A priest can be defined as a victim who offers prayers and sacrifices in reparation for sins and sinners. Jesus, the spotless Victim, hangs from the cross. Standing with Mary at the foot of the cross, St. John offers Jesus to the Eternal Father for the salvation of sinners and humanity.

May priests imitate St. John the Evangelist!

15. OUR LADY

There are many titles that can be attributed to Mary. However, as she stands at the foot of the cross for those long three hours, Sheen gives Mary the name Innocence. We all nailed Jesus to the cross due to our sins. Mary, the Innocent One, never sinned, but offers Jesus to the Father for the salvation of all of humanity.

16. THE CRUCIFIED JESUS

As Jesus hangs from the cross, we have the clearest depiction of Love Incarnate. St. Ignatius states that Jesus died on the cross essentially for two reasons:

1) To show us the ugliness of sin;

2) But especially to show us the greatness of His love for us! If you were the only person in the world, Jesus would have suffered all the torments of His Passion and death for love of you and the salvation of your immortal soul!

17. THE ETERNAL FATHER

In the film of Mel Gibson, The Passion of the Christ, Jesus’ death on the cross ends with a huge drop of water falling from the heavens. Interpretation? It is the Teardrop of God the Father falling from Heaven at the death of His only-begotten Son.

The Father weeps at the death of His Son and the sins of humanity. But the Father permits the death of His Son for love of us and our eternal salvation.

CONCLUSION

Spend ample time meditating upon the Characters in the Passion of Christ. Which of these can you identify with in your own life? Beg the Holy Spirit to enlighten your mind to know the truth, speak the truth, live the truth—and the truth will set you free!

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

Memorial of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, Priest

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

Thursday, September 23rd   Lk. 9: 7-9   Alleluia Verse: “I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord; no one comes to the Father except through me.” (Jn 1: 21)

• “Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them.” (Jn 6: 54-55)

GOD’S GREATEST GIFT: THE HOLY EUCHARIST by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

Filled with fear and dread of being murdered, the Prophet Elijah fled from the wicked Queen Jezebel who planned to murder him because Elijah killed the false Prophets of Baal. After a days’ journey on foot, heading toward the holy mountain, the mountain of God, Elijah was consumed by the spirit of desolation and discouragement and fell into a deep slumber, not even close to arriving at his destination. (I Kings 19:4-8)

GOD’S ANGEL.  Concerned about the Prophet and his long journey, God sent an angel to comfort, encourage and motivate Elijah and in this fashion.  The angel woke Elijah from his deep slumber encouraging him to keep on his journey because it was a long one.

THE BREAD AND NOURISHMENT FOR THE JOURNEY. With words of encouragement, the angel offered Elijah some bread to eat because the journey indeed was going to be a long and grueling one. Elijah ate the bread, but instead of rising and undertaking his long trek again, he returned to his slumber. Once again the angel woke Elijah both insisting and encouraging him to again eat the bread and to walk until he arrived at the holy mountain where he would find safety, security and a sure haven in the presence of God.

ELIJAH OBEYS, EATS AND WALKS!  Obedient to the angel, Elijah once again for the second time eats the bread offered to him from the angel and from the strength that was derived from that bread—which he ate not once but two times—he walks. The distance was long: he walked forty days and forty nights from the energy and strength that came from the encouragement of the angel of God, but also from the bread that filled him with new life!

HOLY MOUNTAIN. Elijah’s destination was the holy mountain of God. God spoke to him not in the hurricane, nor in the fire, nor even in the strong impetuous wind. Rather, God spoke to Elijah in the gentle and sweet breeze. This holy mountain is symbolic of our eternal destiny: heaven! Once arrived we will be with God forever and be able to talk to Him as our best of Friends, face to face for all eternity. Like Elijah, we should all strive to undertake the long and grueling journey to arrive at the holy mountain where God awaits us for all eternity.

ELIJAH AND OUR OWN LIVES. Like the Prophet Elijah, we all have our struggles, our battles, our dreary days, our temptations, our moments of desolation and times in which we simply want to throw in the towel and give up! The key is that we must rise up and eat, not just from a plain or ordinary bread, but we must nourish ourselves on the Bread of Life. Not once or twice but as often as possible. Indeed, if it is within our means, to nourish ourselves on the Bread of Life even every day.

Let us enter into a topic that has a transcendental value and importance in our lives in the short time we have in this earthly pilgrimage and our eternal destiny. We will take the Biblical passage and person of Elijah as our model and example. If we really desire to arrive at our eternal destiny which is heaven, then we must nourish our minds, hearts and souls on the Bread of Life as frequently as possible, but also as fervently as hearts and souls can exert.

Therefore, this short literary work will focus upon how we can upgrade, improve, and magnify the effects of the reception of Holy Communion in our lives. In a word, the most important action that we can carry out on this side of eternity is to receive Jesus, the Bread of Life, in the Sacrament of the most Holy Eucharist. No action of the human person can supersede it in importance. This being the case, let us set up action points and guide-lines to receive Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in Holy Communion with increasing faith, devotion, fervor and love.

1. FAITH IN THE REAL-PRESENCE. 

Over the past fifty-years, statistics have pointed out that huge numbers of Catholics either do not believe in the Real-Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, or at least have a very unclear and foggy notion of WHO is truly present in the Consecrated Host! After the double-consecration in Mass, Jesus is truly and substantially present in His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. It is not a mere symbolic presence, as is the case in Protestant services, but it is the REAL-PRESENCE!!!  Due to materialism and living in a neo-paganist and secular society, we must constantly remind ourselves of this most august and sublime reality.

2. THEOLOGICAL CONCEPT: DISPOSITIVE GRACE! 

One of the most important theological concepts in living out Sacramental theology is that of the Dispositive-grace. In brief, this means that the grace that comes to us, especially from the reception of the most Holy Eucharist, is commensurate with or in direct proportion to the disposition of our soul. In other words, the fault is not in the Sacrament, but the fault is in the recipient of the Sacrament. Why? For the simple and unequivocal reason that the Holy Eucharist, your reception of Holy Communion is the reception of Jesus Himself—the Son of God, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, God of gods, True- God and True-man! It has been said that one Holy Communion well-received could transform you into a saint!

3. PREPARE YOURSELF BETTER. 

As a natural follow-up to the concept of Dispositive-grace is that of our preparation before receiving Holy Communion. Indeed, it should be a constant task and goal in our life to work on making better preparations to receive Holy Communion. Being honest with ourselves, we must all admit and confess with the utmost sincerity and humility that we can all make progress, and a lot of progress in our preparation for receiving the Lord Jesus in Holy Communion.

4. HUMAN EXAMPLE: THE BRIDE AND HER WEDDING.

In the Diary of Saint Faustina on Divine Mercy, the last book of the Diary—Book VI—she gives excellent guidelines on how to receive Jesus better in Holy Communion. (Diary of Mercy in my soul #’s 1804-1828) One of the comparisons or analogies that Saint Faustina brings forth is that of a Bride being prepared to meet and marry her spouse. On a human level all of us understand this analogy. How many details, countless details does the future bride implement so as to make this the happiest day in her life. Just a few: the dress, its size and color and texture, the manicure of her nails, the beauty parlor and the makeup, the shoes, the crown. Not only her physical appearance, but many other details: the guests, the Banquet Hall, the Church, the rug, the choir, the priest, the Readings and the homily, the altar servers. How much time, money, and energy is employed for the wedding day, which for many is hopefully the happiest day of their lives!!! Building upon this analogy, Jesus is the Wedding Bridegroom of our soul every time we receive Him in Holy Communion. Should we not be more demanding upon ourselves in the time, the effort, the manner and the details in which we receive Him into the inner bridal-chamber of our soul???

5. GET A LITTLE HELP FROM OUR FRIENDS: THE SAINTS!!! 

The most famous music-group, the Beatles composed a song with the title With a little help from my friends. Our true, faithful and most authentic friends are the saints. They are bright luminaries who point us to Jesus, the Light of the world, and Heaven where the Face of Jesus will be our eternal lamp and light. They were the ones who really received Jesus with a fervent and loving disposition in Holy Communion. Consequently, when they died, Jesus received them warmly, enthusiastically and lovingly into Heaven. Their greatest desire on earth was to love God with all of their heart, mind, soul and strength. Their whole life was centered around the Holy Mass and reception of the most Holy Eucharist. Therefore, a most efficacious means to make better and more fervent Holy Communions is to humbly beg the saints in heaven to pray and intercede for you that your Communions will become fiery explosions of love for the Lord Jesus!

6. EXAMPLE PAR-EXCELLENCE OF PREPARATION AND THANKSGIVING.

One of the saints who can serve as a brilliant luminary and example in the reception of Holy Communion is SAINT CHARBEL MAKLOUF.  This Lebanese, contemplative monk who was canonized by Saint Pope Paul VI spent most of his life as a Religious-priest in a monastery in silent prayer and work. However, what is pertinent to our theme is his celebration of Holy Mass and his reception of the most Holy Eucharist. In a nutshell, his whole life was focused on the celebration of Holy Mass and the reception of the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus the Lord. How, you might ask? Very simple! He was given permission to celebrate Mass at 12 noon every day. The whole of his morning was spent in preparation for Holy Mass and Holy Communion. Then after he finished celebrating his noon-day Mass, Saint Charbel would spend the rest of his day rendering constant thanks for Mass and Holy Communion. What an example for us! In a certain sense we should aim at this same objective and pursuit. Our life should be centered and focused on Jesus who is truly present in every Mass and every Holy Communion. May our lives be a constant preparation to receive Jesus with burning love, a most fervent reception, and then may the rest of our day be a living act of THANKSGIVING for this greatest of gifts. Incidentally, the word Eucharist— actually means: THANKSGIVING!!!  With the Psalmist let us lift our hearts in prayer: “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His love endures forever.” (Jn 6: 54-55)

7. COMMON PRIESTHOOD OF THE FAITHFUL: LIVE OUT THE OFFERTORY! If you have a chance, view the movie El Gran Milagro, (The Greatest Miracle). This movie in a clear, appealing and dynamic fashion explains the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in claymation. All done in 70 minutes. Among the themes worthy of highest praise is the presentation of how the Guardian Angel teaches the importance of living out the Mass by participating, fully, actively, and consciously, and especially living out to the full the OFFERTORY of the Mass. By this is meant that the priest offers the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, but the faithful who participate in the Mass are called to make their own offering in the Mass—called the OFFERTORY! This is done by making a spiritual offering of yourself and all of your intentions and placing them on the altar, placing them on the paten where the priest’s Host is deposited. Also, we are called to place our intentions in the chalice where the wine will be transformed into the Precious Blood of Jesus. If this is done seriously, your Communions will have infinite value and efficacy for you, the Church, the whole world, and even the souls in Purgatory!

8. WHAT MIGHT BE ELEMENTS FOR MY OFFERING TO LIVE OUT THE OFFERTORY? Actually you can offer anything that may occur to you. If offered with good will and purity of intention, God accepts all! The possibilities are infinite!!! However, there are three areas that might be employed to help you to live more fervently your Offertory and derive countless and untold blessings!

1) THE SOULS IN PURGATORY. The souls in Purgatory, these suffering souls, are already saved, but they must be purified by the fires of God’s loving justice. Remember the words of the last Book of the Bible, the Book of Revelation: “Nothing impure can enter the Kingdom of God.” (Rev 21:27) By far the most efficacious means to purify, to sanctify and to liberate the souls detained in Purgatory is through the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass offered for the poor souls, and the worthy reception of Holy Communion received for them. Saint Nicolas of Tolentino, O.S.A. desired to be a priest primarily so that he could help to free poor souls from the fires of Purgatory by offering the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for them.

2) THE CONVERSION OF SINNERS.  What Jesus and Mary desire most in this world is the conversion and salvation of sinners. By offering your Masses and Holy Communions for the conversion and salvation of sinners, the Hearts of Jesus and Mary overflow with joy.

3) PERSONAL HEART-TRANSPLANT.  We all must work day and night upon our own personal conversions. There is no more efficacious and powerful means by which we can convert our hearts from hearts of sinners into the hearts of saints than by the worthy, frequent, fervent and faithful reception of Holy Communion. Indeed, every worthy reception of Holy Communion is a SPIRITUAL HEART-TRANSPLANT. In all truth, the Heart of Jesus takes possession of our heart and there is a real transformation! We become what we eat! We consume the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus and we become like Him. In time, we will be able to say with Saint Paul: “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” (Gal 2:20)

9. YOUR FIRST, LAST, AND ONLY.    

In some convent sacristies there is a plaque on the wall that the priest is invited to read as he vests and prepares for Holy Mass that reads s such: “Priest, man of God, say this Mass as if it were your first Mass, your last Mass and your only Mass.” What would happen if you made this decision starting today with respect to your participation in Mass and reception of Holy Communion—to receive your Holy Communion as if it were your first, last, and only??? Most likely your Holy Communions would be much more fervent. What do you think?

10. OUR LADY OF THE EUCHARIST AND HOLY COMMUNION. 

As a concluding note we should contemplate the Blessed Virgin Mary and beg for her most powerful intercession in our reception of Holy Communion. In a very real sense Mary received her first Communion when she said YES to the Archangel Gabriel with the words: “Behold, I am the Handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me according to your word.” (Lk 1:28) Then the Gospel of Saint John states: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” (Jn 1: 21) Pope Saint John Paul II made this parallel connection: “The Yes of Mary to the Angel and our Amen when we receive Holy Communion have a real similarity; both result in the reception of Jesus into the depths of the heart.”  Therefore, let us humbly implore the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady of the Eucharist, for the most special grace to receive the Lord Jesus Christ in Holy Communion with lively faith, with frequency, and with a burning fervor and love so that we will be able to set the whole world on fire with love of God!