Wednesday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time

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

Wednesday, September 22nd   Lk. 9: 1-6   “They set out and went from village to village proclaiming the good news and curing diseases everywhere.”

• How are we called to be missionaries? Starting in our own family, for charity begins at home, on our street, in our city, in our country, in the whole world??? The answer will be different for each and every one of us! But called we are by our Baptism, and for many of us, the call was reinforced and blessed by Confirmation!
• Here is how one saint spread the word of God. Pray and think about what you can glean to fire up and enhance your apostolic zeal and efforts!!!

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

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

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

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

1. SPIRITUAL EXERCISES   

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

2. OBEDIENCE

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

3. LOVE FOR POVERTY

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

4. LOVE FOR GOD’S CHILDREN

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

5. APOSTOLIC CREATIVITY  

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

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

6. BAPTISM  

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

7. ORDERING THE DISORDER

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

8. INCULTURATION

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

9. PRAYER & PENANCE

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

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

How did the saint practice penance? One way: he slept very little, so as to accompany the Lord and offer himself as victim for the salvation of souls.

10. APOSTOLIC ZEAL

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

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

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

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

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

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

Feast of Saint Matthew, Apostle and evangelist

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

Tuesday, September 21st   Mt. 9: 9-13   “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

• I think we often forget about the Spiritual Works of Mercy. Jesus promised in the Beatitudes: “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” (Mt 5:7)
• Today, let us each one of examine our conscience. How well have we carried out the Spiritual Works of Mercy in our life? What concrete resolutions can we make to better practice these Spiritual Works of Mercy now? Confident that those who are merciful, will receive mercy!

SEVEN WAYS TO PRACTICE THE SPIRITUAL WORKS OF MERCY by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

We are all encouraged by the Lord, especially by reading and meditating on Mt. 25: 31-46, to practice the Corporal Works of Mercy—to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, to clothe the naked, to welcome the foreigner, and to visit both the sick and the imprisoned.

In sum, our Final Judgment will be based largely on love of God but manifested in our love for neighbor. Indeed, using the words of Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta: “We must find Jesus present in the distressing disguise of the poor.” Saint Vincent de Paul, known for his great love for the poor, actually called the poor “his masters”.

Corporal works of mercy done with the most noble of intentions pleases the Heart of Jesus immensely. However, it is equally important to practice the Spiritual Works of Mercy. Jesus said point blank: “What would it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul in the process. What can a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mt. 16:26)  Pope Francis lamented that one of the most common and grave neglects is the failure to preach the Word of God to the poor. First, fill their hungry stomachs. But then, fill their souls with the Bread of the Word of God and the Bread of Life, which is Holy Communion.

In this short essay we would like to go through the seven Spiritual Works of Mercy and give some ways we can implement these all important spiritual injunctions!

First of all, the Spiritual Works of Mercy are the following:

1. Admonish the sinner;

2. Instruct the ignorant;

3. Counsel the doubtful;

4. Comfort the sorrowful;

5. Bear wrongs patiently;

6. Forgive all injuries;

7. Pray for the living and the dead.

There we have the seven Spiritual Works of Mercy. Let us take them one at a time!

1. ADMONISH THE SINNER

Easier said than done! Doing this can be extremely difficult but it is exceedingly necessary, now more than ever! Why is it so difficult? For the simple reason that we are born proud and do not desire to give up old and ingrained habits. If they are bad habits, they are called “vices”. We often cling to the evil, the ugly, the impure, the unhealthy, the sinful.

A common example merits our attention. Those who co-habit are living in sin and somebody should tell them, giving clear reasons why this is wrong. What might be the reasons to explain why it is wrong? Here are some. Premarital sex or fornication is a mortal sin. You deprive yourself of the Sacraments, both of Confession and the Holy Eucharist. You erode your conscience. You are giving public scandal, no matter how many others may be doing it. Might, meaning majority, does not make right in the eyes of God. 

God so highly prizes admonishing the sinner and bringing him back on the right path that He promises salvation and the expiation of many of our personal sins by simply bringing back one straying sinner. Read the words of the Apostle Saint James (Jas. 5:19-20):

“My brothers, if anyone among you should stray from the truth and someone bring him back, he should know that whoever brings back a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.”

2. INSTRUCT THE IGNORANT

We all have heard the proverb: “Charity begins at home.” This is true, especially in the formation of children and adolescents. By choosing the married state, a husband and wife profess to be open to life through procreation. That is the very first step!

Next, it is incumbent upon parents to teach their children all that refers to God—the Ten Commandments, the Sacraments, prayer, Marian devotion, and much more! The primary responsibility of parents bringing children into this world is to bring these children to heaven.   

The school is not the first teacher, nor the catechism teacher, nor even the Pastor or priest. No! The first teachers must be Mom and Dad. This necessarily implies the process of ongoing or permanent formation on the part of the parents! Another proverb is worthy of injecting here: “You can’t give what you don’t have.”  

One field that the parents must master in the realm of education, for themselves as well as their children, is that of sexual morality. Parents must strive to know the Biblical and Church’s teaching on purity, live it out in their own lives, and then teach it with the utmost clarity to their children!

3. COUNSEL THE DOUBTFUL

Much can be said on this Spiritual Work of Mercy, but we will briefly mention one: the importance of solid spiritual direction. Saint Teresa of Avila, Saint Faustina Kowalska, as well as Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, all were strongly dependent on spiritual direction so as to discern God’s will in their lives. They all are canonized saints and one of the reasons is that they humbly admitted that they were ignorant in many ways, had many doubts, and had to submit their judgments, inspirations and thoughts to a higher authority—their Confessor and Spiritual Director.  

Given that there is a shortage of priests, as well as spiritual directors, still it is incumbent upon us to find some way to have periodic spiritual direction so as to expel the many doubts that can easily cloud our mind, blur our judgment, and corrupt our actions. Saint John of the Cross put it wryly: “He who has himself as spiritual director has an idiot as his directee!” In other words, we all have blind spots that can only be enlightened by proper spiritual direction.

4. COMFORT THE SORROWFUL

This is extremely important! Saint Ignatius of Loyola, in his rules for Discernment of Spirits, outlines the strategy on how to act when we are in a state of desolation.  

In desolation we may feel sad, worn down, exhausted and alone, as if nobody really cares about us, to the point that life seems useless and without meaning. We all go through this state at times; it is part of being human. When you are in a state of desolation, open up to your Spiritual Director, and if you don’t have one, to a Confessor familiar with the Spiritual Exercises. This is essential!

That being said, when you are aware of someone else going through this state of desolation, it is incumbent on you to do all that you can to be a source of encouragement for them. How???

First and foremost, pray for the person. Second, a warm smile can go a long way! Third, say a word or two of encouragement. Fourth, offer a compliment on some good quality the person has. Fifth, be willing to listen to them. Sometimes, just being able to speak their fears and doubts out loud dissipates them. This is very pleasing to God. We become like Simon of Cyrene who helped Jesus carry His cross.

5. BEAR WRONGS PATIENTLY

Once again, easier said than done. In this we need grace and a lot of grace! Maybe at work we have been wronged by a boss or a co-worker. Both the boss and co-worker are not going anywhere. Changing jobs is unthinkable due to the economic situation. The most pleasing attitude in the eyes of God is simply to return to work with great humility and trust in Divine Providence.

Trust in God! He will be there with you to help you patiently carry the cross. Of immense help would be to meditate upon Jesus carrying His cross heading towards His crucifixion. Even though Jesus fell three times, He still got up again, with the weight of all the sins of the world on His weary, beaten and bloody shoulders.

We should always have Jesus before our eyes as our model and example. Indeed Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life! Ask Jesus to help you; He will be your Simon of Cyrene!

6. FORGIVE ALL INJURIES

May God help us! We have arrived at the heart of mercy in our dealings with others. Mercy is a two-way street! If we want to receive mercy from God, then we must be merciful and forgive those who have wronged us. Biblical verses on this topic are many, very many…

1. “Be merciful as your Heavenly Father is merciful.” (Lk. 6:36)

1. “Do not take revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.’” (Rom. 12:19)

3. “Do not let the sun go down on your anger.” (Eph. 4:26)

4. “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.”(Mt. 6:12 The Our Father)

5. “Lord, how many times shall I forgive? Up to seven times?”…”I tell you not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” (Mt. 18:21-22)

6. “Leave your gift at the altar, and first go and be reconciled with your brother, then come and offer your gift.” (Mt. 5:24)

7. Jesus from the cross: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing.” (Lk. 23: 34)

8. Jesus to the repentant thief on the cross. “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Lk.23: 43)

9. One hint in the area of forgiveness. Accept the fact that all of your life people will hurt you.

10. The most common place where we are wounded is in the context of our family, with family members. The key is this: forgive immediately! As soon as anybody hurts or wounds you, pray for that person and forgive them immediately. And as often as the hurt returns, pray for them and forgive them again! If done, you will have won a major victory over self, and shown God how much you love Him by practicing mercy!

4. PRAY FOR THE LIVING AND THE DEAD

Jesus told Saint Faustina that He desires that we practice at least one Act of Mercy every day. He specified that mercy can be carried out in one of three manners:

1) By kind words,

2) By kind deeds,

3) By prayer.

One of the greatest acts of charity that we can do in our lives is to simply pray for others, both the living and the dead.

With respect to the living, there should be a hierarchy of importance. If married and with a family, this should be the order: first spouse, then children, parents, brothers and sisters, relatives, friends, co-workers and associates, and we should also pray for those we do not like and even for our enemies!!!

Then, with respect to the dead, we should pray constantly for the dead. Saint Francis de Sales emphasizes the fact that this is one of the greatest acts of charity that we can do. Why? For this simple reason: they are totally dependent on the mercy of God and on our prayers, almsgiving or charity, as well as our sacrifices, in order to be released from Purgatory!

The Gregorian Mass of 9 month’s of consecutive Masses for the dead came about because Saint Pope Gregory the Great had to pray thirty consecutive Masses so as to free his deceased friend from the fires of Purgatory.

A common error today is in funeral Masses, where the deceased person, despite their many moral failures, is being unofficially canonized in the funeral homily, as well as in the eulogy. True, we should be compassionate towards those who have lost their loved ones. Still, we should not canonize the deceased and assume they are saved. Only the Pope has the right to canonize anyone! The Bible teaches clearly and unequivocally that only the souls, pure and without blemish, can enter the Kingdom of God. Let us not leave our deceased loved ones and friends in the fires of Purgatory through our failure to pray for them! By God’s grace, we can make reparation for their sins with our prayers and sacrifices, and thereby shorten their time in Purgatory.

Ask yourself, in humble prayer, which of these Spiritual Works of Mercy do you believe the Holy Spirit is inspiring you to undertake right now? Look at your concrete living conditions and ask the Holy Spirit to pinpoint persons and areas where you will be able to implement with great generosity one or more of these Spiritual Works of Mercy. Never forget the inspiring and challenging words of Jesus: “Whatsoever you do the least of my brothers that you do unto me.” (Mt. 25: 31-46)

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

Memorial of Saints Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, Priest, and Paul Chŏng Ha-sang, and Companions, Martyrs

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

Monday, September 20th   Lk. 8: 16-18   “No one who lights a lamp and puts it under a basket or sets it under a bed; rather, he places it on a lamp stand so that those who enter may see the light.”

• In a parallel passage, Matthew says: “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Mt 5:14-16)
• St. Ignatius of Loyola gave us A.M.D.G – “Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam” meaning do all for the greater glory of God!
• The saints, humble as they are, let their light shine before others for the greater glory of God. Mother Teresa comes to mind. At the bidding of Christ, she left the Sisters of Loreto to take care of the poor and dying on the streets of Calcutta.
• Mother Teresa experienced what she later described as “the call within the call” as she traveled by train from Calcutta to the Loreto convent in Darjeeling for her annual retreat. “I was to leave the convent and help the poor while living among them. It was an order. To fail would have been to break the faith.”
• Such inspirations or callings are usually attributed to the third Person of the Blessed Trinity, the Holy Spirit. The only difference between us and the saints is that they listen for and follow these inspirations, whereas we often turn a deaf ear to them.
• Today, let us open our minds and hearts to the Holy Spirit speaking through Fr. Ed exhorting us to listen to and follow the inspirations of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

INSPIRATIONS FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

One of the most important activities of the Holy Spirit working in our lives is that of INSPIRATIONS. The Holy Spirit inspires in us what is good, noble, pure, worthy, and of course, what is holy.

PROBLEM: RESISTANCE!  Arriving at the heart of the matter is the word RESISTANCE. Ever active in the lives of the saints, and in our lives, the Holy Spirit often inspires, but we can resist. By resist we mean this: simply saying NO and rejecting these inspirations of the Holy Spirit.

GENTLEMAN.  The Holy Spirit is a Gentleman in the sense that He will never force Himself into our lives. Rather He gently invites us by means of these inspirations to a higher realm of existence—to a life rejecting sin, to a life of purity, to a life of holiness, to a life of service! However, it must be reiterated: the Holy Spirit will knock on the door of your heart, but if you fail to open it, like a true Gentleman, He will leave. He will always respect your free will.

SILENCE.  Bombarded by countless noises—the radio, TV, cars, motorcycles, planes overhead, all of this militates against our ability to pick up the inspirations of the Holy Spirit. For that reason, spiritual writers insist on the necessity of silence. Elijah did not encounter God in the thunder and lightning, or in the earthquake. Rather, he encountered God in the whispering breeze.

GOOD VIBES, BAD VIBES!  The younger generation speaks about vibes. They might say that a person has good vibes or bad vibes. We live in a world bombarded by many noises, which militates against picking up heavenly inspirations. Still, there are the good vibes and the bad vibes. One comes from the Holy Spirit and the other is from the devil. It is up to us to have proper discernment so that we can reject the bad and receive the good.

COMMON INSPIRATIONS.  The following is a list of inspirations that the Holy Spirit often uses to bring us closer to Himself and to our eternal salvation. Read, reflect, and pray on these, and then apply them to your life.

INSPIRATIONS FROM THE GOOD SPIRIT: LISTEN AND FOLLOW:

1. PRAY!  Known under the title of The Interior Master of Prayer, the Holy Spirit gently, but insistently, beckons us to pray. Listen and obey!!!

2. SACRIFICE!  The Holy Spirit will often challenge us to give up something we like, so as to give us something much better for us; this is what we call Sacrifice. Jesus reminds us: “Whoever wants to be my follower must renounce himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” (Mt 16:24)

3. CONVERT!  The first preaching and teaching of Jesus was the following: “Be converted because the Kingdom of God is at hand.” (Mk 1:15) The Holy Spirit constantly challenges us to change what is sinful in our lives.

4.  CONFESS!  Equally important is the Sacrament of Confession! When we have fallen into sin, one of the key operations of the Holy Spirit is to beckon us back to God through Sacramental Confession. The devil for his part will attempt to paralyze us with fear.

5. RECONCILE.  Upon hurting another by word, action, omission, or even silence, the Holy Spirit is intent upon mending the breach through an act of reconciliation. This demands humility of heart. The Holy Spirit will inspire you to take the first step on the path to reconciliation. Always remembering, you can reconcile with someone in your heart, even if they are unwilling to reconcile. God who reads your heart, knows what you do in secret.

6. SERVE.  Jesus said: “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) The Holy Spirit will inspire in us noble sentiments of service. When an opportunity presents itself, the Holy Spirit will inspire you to leave your comfort zone and serve the needy and suffering who are present and waiting for a helping hand, for your hand!

7. ENCOURAGE.  The bad spirit is the Accuser, ready to condemn people and tear them down. The Holy Spirit encourages and will often move you to say a word of encouragement to the downtrodden, or to lift up the fallen sometimes with something as simple as a gentle smile for the forlorn and abandoned. The Holy Spirit thus inspires and encourages us to be a modern BARNABUS—meaning, Son of Encouragement. Accept the challenge!

8. AVOID THROWING IN THE TOWEL.  The expression throw in the towel is a term used in sports which means to simply give up the fight, abandon the struggle, call it quits! The Holy Spirit will often inspire us not to give up when all seems bleak, when the skies are clouded, when the mist is thick and the sun is hidden. If you like, the Holy Spirit will inspire you with an inspiration in this way: “When the going gets tough, the tough get going!”

After Jesus died, for the Apostles, His mission was over, fait accompli—a done deal! But No! Jesus returned to console them and to encourage them not to give up, but rather to hang in there and trust Him all the more! When all seems lost, do not be surprised if the Holy Spirit inspires you to try again and to trust in God’s power! As the Psalmist expresses it: “Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth.” (Ps 124:8)

9. SEEK ADVICE!  In retrospect, looking back at our lives, how many of us regret certain decisions and actions that marked our lives in the wrong way leaving indelible scars or wounds? If only we had sought and asked for advice, those wrong thoughts resulting in wrong decisions and actions would have never have become a reality!!! The Holy Spirit will often inspire us to seek advice when we do not have clarity on a topic or issue at hand. This demands humility, the recognition that we do not know the answer to everything; to be honest, we do not know the answer to most things. A humble request for timely advice will prevent future tragedies!

10. OUR LADY—TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.  The Holy Spirit cannot help inspiring us to call out to His Mystical Spouse, the Blessed Virgin Mary! Saint Louis de Montfort, author of the Marian classic on Consecration, True Devotion to Mary, asserts: “Those who love Mary, the Holy Spirit flings Himself into their souls.”

We hope and pray for all that by being open and attentive to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit, you will experience greater peace and joy in your lives, a steady growth in holiness, long life and eternal life. Mary, Mystical Spouse of the Holy Spirit, help us to be open, to listen, and to respond!

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

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

Sunday, September 19th   Mk. 9: 30-37   “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.”

• Today’s topic for meditation is humility. The sin of the angels, the sin of Adam and Eve, were sins of Pride. The opposite virtue is Humility. Today may we be edified by the humility of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Then we will pray for the virtue that lays the foundation for humility: Patience, the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset. Easier said than done!

Part One:  On the Humility of the Blessed Virgin Mary by St. Luis de Montfort

Part Two: PATIENCE, PATIENCE, AND MORE PATIENCE!!! by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

PART ONE:  On the Humility of the Blessed Virgin Mary… Excerpt from Introduction to “True Devotion to Mary” by St. Luis de Montfort…

1. It was through the Blessed Virgin Mary that Jesus came into the world, and it is also through her that He must reign in the world.

2. Because Mary remained hidden during her life she is called by the Holy Spirit and the Church “Alma Mater”, Mother hidden and unknown. So great was her humility that she desired nothing more upon earth than to remain unknown to herself and to others, and to be known only to God. (“Alma Mater” comes from two Latin words meaning “nourishing or bountiful mother.”)

3. In answer to her prayers to remain hidden, poor and lowly, God was pleased to conceal her from nearly every other human creature in her conception, her birth, her life, her mysteries, her resurrection and assumption. Her own parents did not really know her; and the angels would often ask one another, “Who can she possibly be?”, for God had hidden her from them, or if He did reveal anything to them, it was nothing compared with what He withheld.

4. God the Father willed that she should perform no miracle during her life, at least no public one, although He had given her the power to do so. God the Son willed that she should speak very little although He had imparted His wisdom to her. Even though Mary was His faithful spouse, God the Holy Spirit willed that His apostles and evangelists should say very little about her and then only as much as was necessary to make Jesus known.

5. Mary is the supreme masterpiece of Almighty God and He has reserved the knowledge and possession of her for Himself. She is the glorious Mother of God the Son who chose to humble and conceal her during her lifetime in order to foster her humility.

PART TWO: PATIENCE, PATIENCE, AND MORE PATIENCE!!! by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

A woman talking to the Lord in prayer, begged the Lord for a very special virtue that she sorely needed, and this was the content of her concise but almost desperate prayer: “Lord, I beg you, Lord, I truly beg you, give me patience and I need it right now!” I think we can all identify with the heartfelt prayer of this woman begging for a virtue that we all need on a daily basis, probably even on an hourly basis. So important is this virtue that Jesus said: “By your patience you will save your souls.” (Lk 21:19) All of us must strive to practice patience, but of primary importance, and Saint Ignatius of Loyola insists on this, we must beg God for the grace to be patient.  

Therefore, we would like to offer a strategy, a clear and practical program on how we can eventually, with the help of God’s grace which is never lacking, attain that most important and most needed virtue of PATIENCE. With God’s grace all is possible. Or if you like: “Nothing is impossible with God!” (Lk 1:37)

1. GOD’S INFINITE AND ETERNAL LOVE. 

Most of us have heard this phrase countless times, such that it may seem to be a trite, hackneyed, pious platitude, or common cliché. However, this short but profound Biblical truth must descend from our head to our heart and it is this: GOD REALLY AND TRULY LOVES ME!!! Most certainly we have heard and read this truth many times, but maybe it has never really sunk into the depths of our heart. In a word, we must be convinced not only that GOD IS LOVE, but that God has an infinite and eternal love for me at all times, in all places, and in all circumstances! And yes, it must be stated, God loves me even when I fail Him due to my moral failures that we call sin. Jesus came not for the perfect but for sinners, and all of us fall into that category. As Saint Paul clearly reminds us in Romans: “Where sin abounds, the mercy of God abounds all the more.” (Rom 5:20) Therefore, pray and meditate upon this most simple but profound truth: God really does love me always and without limitations. His love is both eternal and infinite! This is our Great God!

2. CONTEMPLATE THE CRUCIFIX. 

In the life of Saint John Bosco in the context of the Oratory, his mother, Margarita, stayed with him to help with the many household chores in attending to rambunctious teenage boys. However, she had reached her limit with the disorder caused by these mischievous teens, and had her bag packed, ready to return to her home. Father John Bosco, her son, said nothing, only lifted his finger to the wall where there was a crucifix, with Jesus hanging from it. After gazing upon Jesus hanging and suffering on the cross, Mama Margarita understood how much Jesus loved these abandoned youths and how Jesus wanted Margarita to practice patience. Thereupon, this holy woman and mother of a saintly priest, dropped her baggage and spent the rest of her life assisting John Bosco with the youth! Therefore, in your life, when it seems as if the cross you are carrying is unbearable, lift up your eyes to contemplate Jesus hanging on the cross loving you, and loving all of humanity, patiently enduring the pain for all. With great humility thank Him, and He will give you special graces to practice patience.

3. BEG FOR THE GRACE. 

Saint Augustine states: “We are all beggars before God.” That means we are all in dire need of God’s help at all times and in all places because we are very weak. We may be weak, but God is strong! As the Psalmist reminds us: “Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth.” (Ps 124:8) After begging the Lord to remove the thorn in his flesh, Saint Paul was told by the Lord: “My grace is sufficient!” (2 Cor 12:9) Causing the great Apostle Paul to cry out: “When I am weak, it is then that I am strong.” (2 Cor 12:10) Indeed, if we beg the Lord fervently for the grace to be patient, He will rush to our aid. God hears and responds to such a humble and persevering prayer!

4. MAKE THE WAY OF THE CROSS. 

On one occasion, I was speaking to a Spiritual Director and he made this comment: “When I find myself in a state of desolation, when things appear to be dark, dreary, and hopeless, I make the Stations of the Cross and inevitably the desolation disappears.” Without doubt, this can be applied to patience. When you feel your patience is gone, that the weight of the cross is unbearable and you can no longer support it, then slowly in prayer walk the Stations of the Cross, aka the Way of the Cross with the Lord and you will receive renewed strength, vitality, and patience! With Saint Francis of Assisi we pray: “We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.” (Purchase or find on-line the Stations of the Cross, aka the Way of the Cross to pray as needed!)

5. HONEST CONVERSATIONS WITH JESUS, MARY, AND SAINT JOSEPH. 

Our prayer, to be authentic, must be honest. If we find our life situation to be very difficult, to the point of being almost impossible, then it is time to sit down in front of Jesus, and you might invite Saint Joseph and Mary to be present as well, and pour out your heart to your Best Friends—Jesus, Mary, and Saint Joseph. Jesus said: “Unless you become like a little child, you cannot enter the Kingdom of God.” (Mt 18:3) Take for a model, if you like, the movie Marcelino Pan Y Vino, also known as The Miracle of Marcelino (1955 version). This little orphan boy with holy abandon opens up to Jesus, expressing the deepest desire in his heart, as well as his greatest suffering—the lack or absence of the love of a mother and his great desire to have a mother. He tells all to Jesus. Jesus hears the little boy and accedes to his request. So must we be like a little child, so must we imitate the holy abandon, trust, and simplicity of Marcelino, and tell the Lord how difficult it is at times to bear the cross and beg for the sorely needed patience. The Lord, Mary, and Saint Joseph will not delay in coming to your assistance!

6. MEDITATE / CONTEMPLATE UPON HEAVEN—YOUR ULTIMATE DESTINY.

It must be stated with bold truth: we do not meditate or contemplate enough on the reality of heaven. Our life is very short, like the flower that rises in the morning and withers and dies as the sun goes down, or like smoke blown by the wind. Saint Augustine states that our life in comparison with eternity is a mere blink of the eye. Our Lady of Fatima said that if humanity would only meditate upon eternity, they would be converted immediately! We must meditate upon the shortness of our life, the purpose of our life, and the eternal reward that awaits us.

The simple Catechism teaches us this eternal truth: “We are here on earth to know God, love God, and serve God, so that we will be happy with Him forever in heaven.” Even our greatest crosses and sufferings can be supported if we meditate more often upon Heaven—its joys, rewards, and reality, and this forever!

Saint Paul breaks out with this radiant and consoling truth: “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)

Also, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Rev 21:3-4) Whatever our troubles, let us say to ourselves, “This too shall pass”, and allow the thought of Heaven to attain for us patience, patience, and even more patience!!!

7. OFFER IT UP, DO NOT WASTE IT! 

Of course, the whole concept and virtue of patience is related to suffering. Our patience can be tried with respect to our health, finances, family problems, social conflicts, academic or work challenges or failures, ruptured relationships, mental and emotional turmoil, and uncertainties of all kinds—all of these and more can put our patience to the test! However, instead of complaining and becoming bitter over your crosses, why not accept the crosses, beg for the patience to carry them, and then offer the crosses, as well as your patient endurance, to God for the conversion and salvation of sinners—there are many out there who need these special graces if they are to be saved, even in our own families! This is a prayer Our Lord will not fail to answer! Also, with this supernatural view or perspective, the crosses become lighter and patience comes easier. Try it! Lift up your mind and cultivate a more supernatural vision of your life, your crosses, and their eternal value! 

8. DON’T HIDE IT, BUT SHARE IT. 

One of the key aspects of Ignatian Spirituality is that in our spiritual life, we are not made to be loners, rugged individualists, like the pioneer, Daniel Boone. On the contrary, to make it to heaven, we have to learn to work with others and we must have some form of spiritual direction or accompaniment. Of capital importance for our spiritual progress is the need to have a spiritual director and to be able to open up with great humility, trust, and transparency, especially when the cross seems heaviest and our patience is being put to the test. You might be surprised after you have unloaded—articulated and expressed your cross and your need for patience to your spiritual director, how the cross seems to diminish in size and the patience that seemed almost impossible is indeed very possible. Jesus said: “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Mt 11:30)

9. THREE AREAS WHERE WE MUST ESPECIALLY BE ON GUARD AND BEG FOR THE GRACE. 

Jesus said: “By your patience, you will save your souls.” (Lk 21:19) A good part of our spiritual victory can be achieved through awareness, vigilance, self-knowledge, and a Daily Examen. In our short lives there are three areas where we need patience: 1) With God, 2) With Others, and 3) With Ourselves. Let us briefly address these three areas.

First, with respect to God, possibly it has happened that you have been praying to God for something and it seems that He is not listening. Nothing could be further from the truth! God always hears us, but He often makes us wait so that we can grow in the virtues of patience and prayerfulness. Saint Monica prayed for more than 30 years for the conversion of her family! But it happened—not only was her son, Augustine, converted, but also her husband and mother-in-law!

Second, with respect to patience with others, of great help might be the simple reminder of our own faults and sins and how patient God is with us! So should we be patient with the limitations of others!

Finally, Saint Frances de Sales insists that we must be patient with ourselves. “The just man falls seven times a day, but rises again.” (Prov 24:16) Saint Junipero Serra was famous for saying: “Siempre Adelante, Siempre Adelante y nunca atras.” That is, “Always forward, always forward and never look back.” The Founder of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary, Venerable Bruno Lanteri coined the two word axiom: NUNC COEPI—NOW I BEGIN meaning that if I fall, I will get up as many times as needed and try again trusting in God’s infinite patience, mercy, and love. Indeed, as the Psalmist teaches us: “God is slow to anger and rich in kindness.” (Ps 103:8)

10. MARIA COGITA, MARIA INVOCA… THINK OF MARY AND INVOKE MARY.

Once again, a hallmark of the spirituality of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary is a tender, total, and unlimited trust in the presence, power, prayer, perseverance, and purity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the prayer, the Memorare, Saint Bernard offers us these most consoling words: O most gracious Virgin Mary, never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession was left unaided…” Why not form this habit, consecrate your days to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus. However, during the course of the day, especially during trials and tribulations when the cross seems most heavy, lift up your eyes and call upon the Holy Name of Mary. As a most loving and tender Mother, she will never fail you!

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

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

Saturday, September 18th   Lk. 8: 4-15   “The seed that fell on rich soil…”

From the Gospel according to St. Luke:

“And the angel said to her, ‘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.’”

“Mary said to the angel, ‘How will this be, since I am a virgin?’”

“And the angel answered her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.’”

“And Mary said, ‘Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.’ And the angel departed from her.”

• The Blessed Mother’s womb was the rich soil for the seed that became flesh and dwelt among us, the Son of God made man, Jesus Christ.
• “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (Jn 1:14)
• What we celebrate at Christmas is a source of fruitfulness for every day of our lives, if we believe!

CHRIST IS BORN AND DWELLS AMONG US by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

There are many ways that we can interpret the Birth of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The most obvious is of course His birth about 2000 years ago in the cave of Bethlehem of the Virgin Mary. This we celebrate every year as the culmination of the Advent Season. However, there are many other spiritual and mystical ways that we can allow Jesus to be born in our world, in our communities, in our parishes, in our families and in our own hearts. This birth of Jesus can be as often as our hearts are willing to receive Him.

More than an essay, we offer you ten points to meditate upon to enrich your understanding of the Birth of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. May Jesus be born in your heart in time and for all eternity!

1. Incarnation and Birth.  Jesus came into time about 2000 years ago through the consent of the Virgin Mary—“…and the Word became flesh and lived among us.” (Jn 1:14) The reason? Love for all of humanity and for each one of us individually. Due to the Original sin of our first parents—Adam and Eve—the gates of heaven were closed. Therefore Jesus and Mary, the second Adam and the second Eve, came into the world to repair for the sins of our first parents, and to open the gates of heaven so that we can be saved. The name of Jesus means “Savior”; He came to save us from our sins.

2. Birth.  In poverty, humility, simplicity, and obedience to the will of the Father, Jesus was born of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We are called to imitate these virtues of the birth of Jesus. Enemies to our living out these virtues are the following: materialism, that leads to consumerism, hedonism, and finally slavery to created things and forgetting the Creator of all things. Ven. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen reminds us: “The Creator of the universe had no place to be born in His own creation.”

3. Church is Mater et Magistra—Pope Saint John XXIII. This was an encyclical of this newly canonized Pope. As Mother, the Church brings forth new children. Many say they love Jesus but they do not like, nor can they even stand, the Church. Wrong reasoning! Jesus said that He would be with us always, even until the end of time. (Mt 28:20) He is present with us now in His Mystical Body, the Catholic Church. Therefore, Jesus is born in time through grace and through the workings of His Mystical Body: the Catholic Church.

4. Sacramental Life.  This bringing forth Jesus in new life is especially expressed in the administration and worthy reception of the Sacraments—the most powerful and efficacious means of grace. There are seven and they can be divided into three categories: 1) Sacraments of initiation: Baptism, Communion, and Confirmation; 2) Sacraments of Healing: Confession and the Anointing of the Sick; 3) Sacraments of Service—the Sacraments of Holy Orders and Holy Matrimony.

5. Baptism.  Talking to Nicodemus at night, Jesus says that man must be born again to enter the Kingdom of God. Nicodemus takes a natural interpretation of the words of Jesus and believes that he has to enter again the womb of his mother. Jesus clarifies this by saying that man must be born again of water and the spirit. (Jn 3:1-15) This passage and conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus points to our second birth of water and spirit and this is the Sacrament of Baptism. This was truly our second birth. It might not be a bad idea to establish a new custom in our families: celebrate two birthdays—our natural birth and our spiritual birth or Baptism. Have ice-cream and cake with candles twice a year! Parents can use this as a catechetical tool to educate their children on the importance of Baptism, its meaning, its serious character, and the obligation to live out one’s Baptismal commitment. This means in concrete that the baptized person must renounce Satan and all of his pomps, and pursue a life of holiness. Indeed Baptism demands that we pursue holiness of life! All of us are called to become saints!

6. Confession, Penance, and Reconciliation.  The two greatest tragedies that can befall the human person are the following: committing a mortal sin, and worse yet, dying in mortal sin. But there is good news! If we have the misfortune to fall into mortal sin, there is always hope and trust in the infinite mercy of Jesus. This becomes a reality through a Sacramental Confession. Mortal sin is the death of the soul. Sacramental Confession is being born again through the grace of God and cleansing from the Precious Blood of Jesus. The Doctor of Grace, the great Saint Augustine, who lived many years far from God, stated that a good Sacramental Confession is a “Lazarus experience”. (Jn 11:1-44) Lazarus was dead and buried in the tomb for four days! Jesus approached the tomb and cried out in a loud voice: “Lazarus, come out!” This very dead man came out of the tomb alive and was given back to his sisters, Martha and Mary. This was in anticipation of the Paschal Mystery of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus would die on the cross, then rise to new life, and give us new life and life in abundance. New life first through Baptism and Sacramental Confession. Saint Thomas Aquinas asserted: “The return of a sinner to the state of grace is greater than the creation of the whole natural universe.” A proposal very pleasing to Jesus would be to bring the whole family to Confession on a regular basis. Maybe stop for an ice cream cone afterwards. Become an Apostle of Confession; try to bring some wayward soul back to the Sacrament of God’s Mercy. Preparing well for this Sacrament and receiving it well, indeed, is the birth of Jesus in the depths of our souls.

7. Sacramental Marriage.  Unfortunately, due to paganism, secularism, moral relativism and the presence of the devil, many couples today start to live together. This has many names: cohabitation, free-union, trial-marriage, “Shacking out together”, being married civilly. For two baptized Catholics to live in this state is to be living in the state of mortal sin, thereby jeopardizing their eternal salvation. Therefore, the couple who takes the necessary steps to prepare for a Sacramental marriage, and then gets married in the Church, will experience the birth of Jesus in their hearts, in their souls, in their lives, and in their families on the day of the wedding. We should all promote traditional marriages, getting married in the church, and encourage the many couples who today live in free union, to have their union blessed by the priest in the presence of Jesus, who rejoiced with the married couple in Cana. It was here that Jesus performed His first Public miracle, changing water into wine through the intercession of Mary, His Mother. (Jn 2:1- 12)

8. Mass and Eucharist.  Jesus was born in Bethlehem, which means the House of Bread. In a very special way, Jesus is born at every Mass in the hands of the Ordained Catholic priest at the moment of consecration. Still more important is the moment of Holy Communion. The most sublime moment in the life of the human person is receiving Jesus worthily in Holy Communion. Indeed, in that moment, Jesus is born in the interior Bethlehem of your heart and your soul! For that reason, it is important to prepare our souls well for Jesus to be born in our hearts in Holy Communion. Let us resolve to attend Mass as often as possible and participate fully, actively, and consciously and receive Jesus with great purity, love, humility and confidence.

9. Preaching and the Birth of Jesus.  The Church teaches that one of the primary duties of the priest is preaching the Word of God—how important this task! How is this carried out? Let us try to follow this dynamic! When a holy priest meditates on the Word of God, the word goes from his eyes into his heart and lives there. Jesus is born in the heart of the priest through mental prayer. Then the task of preaching follows. The priest prays over the Scripture he has meditated on, begging for the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Then he preaches to the people and those who have an open heart, mind and soul, listen. The priest as preacher opens his mouth and preaches the Word of God; the word goes into the ears of the listeners; from their ears it goes into their mind, which contains both memory and understanding. Then from the mind, the word sinks into the depths of their heart and Jesus in born in them! From their heart, the word is carried into their life which blossoms in fruitful actions that we call virtues. Indeed, a true preacher of the Word of God brings forth spiritual life every time he sincerely preaches the Word of God. On one occasion, a woman in the crowd praises the womb that bore Jesus and the breasts that nursed Him. But Jesus gives even higher praise to His Mother Mary with these words: “Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and put it into practice.” (Lk 11:28) For this reason, Saint Augustine teaches that Mary first conceived Jesus in her mind, before she conceived Him in her womb!

10. Christ’s Birth and the death of the saints.  The Church has an interesting and somewhat paradoxical teaching. When a saint dies, he does not really die but is transferred into a realm of true and eternal life—this we call Heaven. For that reason, our life of grace is Christ born in us anew, as well as our new birth in Christ. It should be our daily and constant effort to grow in grace, protect the life of grace in our souls, and beg for the grace to die in the state of grace. If done, we will live forever in heaven in eternal love, peace and joy! Let us pray to Our Lady that Jesus will be born in our hearts, today, tomorrow, and at the hour of our death. “Hail Mary full of grace… pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.”

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