Thursday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

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

THURSDAY, August 19th   Mt. 22: 1-14   “Many are invited, but few are chosen.”

• The ones chosen will be those who persevere in pursuing holiness of life. One way to pursue holiness is to help others get to heaven! Fr. Ed shows us how we can do that.

PART 1: Diary of St. Faustina # 153

One day, I saw two roads. One was broad, covered with sand and flowers, full of joy, music and all sorts of pleasures. People walked along it, dancing and enjoying themselves. They reached the end without realizing it. And at the end of the road there was a horrible precipice; that is, the abyss of hell. The souls fell blindly into it; as they walked, so they fell. And their number was so great that it was impossible to count them.

And I saw the other road, or rather, a path, for it was narrow and strewn with thorns and rocks; and the people who walked along it had tears in their eyes, and all kinds of suffering befell them. Some fell down upon the rocks, but stood up immediately and went on. At the end of the road there was a magnificent garden filled with all sorts of happiness, and all these souls entered there. At the very first instant they forgot all their sufferings.

PART 2: BECOME A SOLID BRIDGE TO HEAVEN by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

Help souls to attain a holy and happy death! In the process, we will save our own soul.

Saint Thomas Aquinas offers us this succinct definition for charity (which by the way means supernatural love); charity is to will the good of the other. What then would be the absolute greatest good for the other?

In the eyes of God, with regard to the human person, the greatest good that a human person can attain is the salvation of their immortal soul. Jesus expressed this truth with brilliant clarity in these unequivocal words: “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? (Mt 16:26)

There are only two ways, two paths, two eternal destinies, and no more! Jesus says that the way that leads to destruction is wide and there are many who choose it. Jesus continues saying that the road that leads to eternal life is narrow and few choose such a path—for this is the Way of the Cross. It is the Good Friday that leads to the glory of the Resurrection. In a word, either we choose the narrow way of the cross and follow Jesus unreservedly and so attain heaven; or we choose the broad path of ease, comfort, luxury, pleasure and sin and we lose our soul in the eternal flames of hell, and this is forever.

The huge mass of humanity lives for the world, for its glamour, pleasure, power and fame. Their eyes are fixed only on what this world has to offer. Very few indeed have their eyes lifted on high to the reality of Heaven, or give much care or concern for their eternal destiny. The biggest tragedy in the world is to throw away one’s eternal salvation. How true the words of Jesus: “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?” (Mk. 8:36)

This being the present state of affairs, let us prayerfully meditate upon the eternal Truths, on the reality of death, judgment, heaven, hell and also of capital importance, eternity—meaning forever and ever and ever. But let us strive to do all we possibly can to become a solid bridge by which many can cross from this life to Heaven to be with the Lord Jesus and His Mother, the angels and the saints for all eternity. Indeed, what are practical steps we can take to help those who are on the highway to hell to reach heaven?

1. PRAYER.  

Saint Alphonsus Maria Liguori stated point blank the indispensable necessity of prayer for our eternal salvation in these words that are cited in the Catechism of the Catholic Church: “He who prays much will be saved; he who does not pray will be damned.” A powerful Biblical example that illustrates this truth are the two men who were hanging on crosses between Jesus on the cross on Calvary that First Good Friday—the two thieves. One was lost; the other saved. The Good thief was saved precisely because he prayed at the end of his life. Prayer is talking to Jesus. The Good thief talked to Jesus and begged for mercy. Jesus responded immediately with these consoling and comforting words: “Amen, amen I say to you: today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Lk. 23: 43) His few but fervent prayers saved the good thief, and as Ven. Archbishop Fulton Sheen quipped: “And he died a thief because he stole heaven.”

2. MEDITATE UPON THE SHORTNESS OF LIFE.

To the many who have drifted into no man’s land—The Waste land by T.S. Eliot, that is to say into disbelief, doubt and skepticism, remind them how short and uncertain life is. The Psalmist reminds us of this truth: “Our life is like the flower of the field that raises its head in the morning but withers and dies as the sun goes down.” (Ps. 103:15-16) Saint Augustine comments on the ephemeral and transitory character of human life with these penetrating words: “Our life in comparison with eternity is a mere blink of the eye.” Saint James adds: “Our life is like a puff of smoke that appears and then is gone.” (Jas. 4:14)

3. UNCERTAINTY OF LIFE.

Not only is human life a blink of an eye, a puff of smoke in comparison to eternity, but also, all human life is precarious, uncertain and subject to change, and that means death. On almost a daily basis we are exposed to untimely deaths: internationally, nationally, locally, and even on a personal or family level. No one of us can excuse ourselves from being taken aback or even shocked by some person who was cut down in the prime of their life in some tragic accident. In these times, COVID has also made us very aware of the fragility of life. Not to be apocalyptic, but death could be knocking on our door in any week, day, hour, or minute. Jesus warns us of the uncertain and precarious nature of the human plight in the cogent, concise, and catastrophic Parable of the Rich fool. This man thought he had it made in the shade for a long life of ease, comfort, and pleasure. Jesus brought his utopian dreams to a screeching halt proclaiming to him that he would die that very night. And where will all his possessions go then?

4. BRING THE WANDERING SHEEP, THE PRODIGAL SONS TO CONFESSION. 

Given the shortness and uncertainty of life, beyond a shadow of doubt, one of the greatest acts of charity that you can accomplish is to convince a wandering sheep, or Prodigal Son or Daughter (Lk. 15:11-32), to come back to God by means of a good Sacramental Confession. Give this wayward person, whose soul has infinite value, an examination of conscience pamphlet. Tell them where and when the confessions are. Accompany them to the Church and to the Confessional. Tell them what to do when they confess. Then you go to confession first and come out with a radiant smile, to encourage them. Saint James promises that if we bring back a wandering soul, we save our soul and expiate a multitude of sins. (James 5:20)

5. RECEPTION OF THE LAST SACRAMENTS BEFORE THE LORD CALLS US.     

One of the greatest graces that we can receive would be to receive the Last Sacraments before we pass from this life to the next. There is a continuous Rite that a priest administers to the dying. The proper order is the following: Confession, the Anointing of the Sick, then the Eucharist, and if it were to be the last Communion, it is called Viaticum— meaning food for the Wayfarers on their way to the Lord. This would be the ideal order if the sick person had the physical strength, as well as the mental lucidity. Confession forgives sins; the Anointing of the Sick unites the suffering person to the Lord’s Passion on the cross and gives hope; the Eucharist, the Bread of Life, nourishes and gives strength for the last battle against the enemies of the soul.

6. APOSTOLIC PARDON.

Very few are aware of the many treasures the Church offers to those who are willing to receive them. The Apostolic Pardon is taken from the treasuries of the Church which spring forth from the Passion, death and Resurrection of Jesus (The Paschal Mystery) and is administered by the priest, usually after the three last Sacraments discussed above. The words said by the priest are the following: “Through the holy mysteries of our redemption, may almighty God release you from all punishments in this life and in the life to come. May he open to you the gates of paradise and welcome you to everlasting joy.” Or “By the authority which the Apostolic See has given me, I grant you a full pardon and remission of all your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” With these words, said by the priest over the dying person, that person is granted full remission of all punishment due for their sins. In concrete terms, upon receiving the Apostolic Pardon, the dying person can have full and total access to Heaven upon their death. What an incredible gift and how few Catholics are aware of this gift!

7. PLENARY INDULGENCES.

Somewhat related to the Apostolic Pardon is that of the reception of what is called the Plenary Indulgence. If the conditions are met, the person that receives the Plenary Indulgence has all of their sins forgiven, as well as the temporal punishment due for those sins. If they were to die after properly receiving the Plenary Indulgence, they too could go to heaven immediately after their death. This being said the following are the conditions required to receive a Plenary Indulgence:

1. SACRAMENTAL CONFESSION. First, the Sacramental Confession done with the priest must be accomplished. Well prepared, expressed, and with true and firm purpose of Amendment, within 2 weeks before or after the indulgenced act.

2. SACRAMENTAL COMMUNION. Then, participation in Holy Mass with a fervent reception of Holy Communion —the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ.

3. ACTION REQUIRED FOR THE PLENARY INDULGENCE.  There are several possible actions, but we will offer three to choose from: 1) The Family Rosary or praying the Rosary in front of the Blessed Sacrament; or 2) Making the Way of the Cross; or 3) Meditate upon the Bible, the Word of God, for at least 30 minutes.

4. PRAY FOR THE INTENTIONS OF THE PONTIFF. Next, praying for the intentions of the Holy Father, the Pope – an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be.

5. FIRM PURPOSE TO GIVE UP SIN. Last but not least, to receive the Plenary Indulgence, the person must be in the state of grace and make a most firm purpose to give up all sin—both mortal and venial—as well as the near occasions of sin. That being said, if despite our best efforts, we fall into venial sin do to human weakness, this does not negate the Plenary Indulgence!

If these five conditions are carried out, then we can obtain a Plenary Indulgence, meaning our soul becomes cleansed of all sins, as well as all punishment for these sins. If the Lord were to call us from this life to eternal life at this very moment, we could have immediate access to Heaven! How many free gifts Jesus offers through His Church, but how few people take advantage of them!!!

One more consideration, we can apply the Plenary Indulgence to ourselves, but not to any other living person. However, we can apply our Plenary Indulgence to a suffering soul in purgatory for their immediate release! By earning a Plenary Indulgence daily, how many souls could we release from purgatory to heaven in our life time – souls who would gratefully intercede for us here on earth! We call this the Communion of Saints! The Church Triumphant, the saints in heaven; the Church Suffering, the souls in Purgatory; and the Church Militant, those of us fighting the good fight here on earth.

8. PERFECT ACT OF CONTRITION. 

Another very important practice that must be preached and taught far and wide is the practice of striving to make a Perfect Act of Contrition as soon as we are aware of having fallen into mortal sin. This practice most especially should be practiced before retiring every night. For if we die in the state of mortal sin, we go to hell! Sacramental Confession is not always possible due to the shortage and lack of priests. However, we can make a Perfect Act of Contrition at any time and any place, if moved by the grace of God. By “Perfect Act of Contrition” is meant that our sorrow for mortal sin is not simply Fear of the Lord and fear of eternal punishment—this is Attrition or Imperfect Contrition. To be Perfect  Contrition, the sorrow must come from the depths of our heart with a firm purpose to avoid sinning in the future due to true love of God. In other words, we do not want to sin even in the slightest way because God loves us so much and we want to return His love with the love in our own heart. If the Perfect Act of Contrition is done, then we can be restored to the state of grace even before Sacramental Confession. However, upon the quickest and earliest occasion we still must have recourse to Sacramental Confession.

9. CHAPLET OF DIVINE MERCY FOR THE DYING.

When a person is dying, temptations, especially to give in to despair, can be very intense. A most powerful and efficacious means by which to save such a soul is to pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy that Jesus taught to Saint Faustina and strongly recommended. Jesus said these words to Saint Faustina: “My daughter, encourage souls to say the Chaplet which I have given to you. It pleases me to grant everything they ask of me by saying the chaplet. Write that when they say this chaplet in the presence of the dying, I will stand before My Father and the dying person, not as the just Judge, but as the merciful Savior. (Diary # 1541)  Earlier our Lord said to Saint Faustina, as recorded in the Diary: “At the hour of their death, I defend as my own glory every soul that will say it for a dying person, the indulgence is the same.” (Diary # 811). Even if we are not physically present to the dying, as long as the Chaplet is prayed, the dying person will still receive the extraordinary grace of salvation—through the Wounds of our merciful Savior! Therefore, let us do all we can to pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for the dying and to promote this little-known message and wonderful Promise.

10. OUR LADY: THE ROSARY AND ETERNAL SALVATION. 

Another powerful weapon that we have at our disposal to help us attain the grace of all graces, and that is to die in the state of grace, is to pray the most Holy Rosary on a daily basis. Saint Padre Pio spoke of the Rosary thus— “Give me my Weapon!” Indeed, if you and your family have formed the habit of praying the most Holy Rosary on a daily basis, then you are preparing yourself for death at least fifty times every day. How? Every time you say the words at the end of the Hail Mary, you pray: “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.” By these words, we are inviting Mary to be with us at the very moment we die, helping us to beg for forgiveness and God’s infinite mercy through her most powerful intercession.

In conclusion, Saint Alphonsus Liguori teaches us that “the grace of all graces is to die in the state of grace.” If done, our soul is saved for all eternity. Therefore, we warmly encourage you to read this article, try to understand it, and even memorize its content. Then share this with your loved ones, as well as many who have wandered away from the faith. But most important: strive to live this message. If done, heaven will be yours for all eternity. May Our Lady pray for us now and at the hour of our death!

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

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

WEDNESDAY, August 18th   Mt. 20: 1-16   “Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?”

• Those who begrudge the generosity of others, are usually not generous themselves. The antidote to selfishness and envy is generosity.
• How can we be more generous with God? How can we be more generous with our neighbor? How can we be more generous with ourselves?
• Fr. Ed gives us the answer in today’s meditation. When we are spiritually healthy, practicing virtue and avoiding vice in our thoughts, words and actions, we are honoring God who created us, honoring our neighbor by setting a good example, and honoring ourselves. As Ven. Mother Luisita reminds us each day, “For greater things you were born.”
• Let us select one or two areas where we need the most work, and make a sincere and diligent effort to practice the opposite virtues. Our God is so good, He will not only reward us in heaven, but he will reward us now!

SPIRITUALLY HEALTHY LIVING—RIGHT NOW!!! By Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

Healthy organic foods, physical workout centers or gyms, various vitamin pills, vacation Spa Resorts, and many other such avenues are all attempts to maintain good bodily health. No doubt, all of this can be good for this simple reason: our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we should be responsible guardians and custodians of this gift of our body that God in His generosity has given to us.

BODY OVER SOUL.  However, there often exists this error: we place the needs of our body over those of our soul and this is a wrong hierarchy of values. The words of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ teach us this truth: “What would it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul? What can a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mk. 8: 36-37)

AVOID DAMAGING OUR BODY.  On a human and natural level, we should make a concerted effort to avoid that which could damage our body. Good parents have taught this to their children from the start. Don’t play with fire… look twice before you cross the street… don’t hang out with bad companions… clean your room—cleanliness is next to godliness… wash your hands before you eat… eat your vegetables… brush your teeth before going to bed… get to bed on time. All of these are common words of advice that parents have given their children for years on end.

OUR IMMORTAL SOUL. Let us lift this to a higher, supernatural plane and offer advice on how to avoid that which damages our immortal soul, which has more value than the whole created universe! Indeed, we can sin through thought, word, deed, and omission which means not doing what we are required by God to do! Avoiding the near occasion of sin is an indispensable quality in our pursuit of holiness and acquiring the crown of glory that we call eternal life!

1. AVOID GOSSIP AND GOSSIPERS.  Jesus says clearly that we will be judged on every word that issues forth from our mouth. He also says that from the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. If we have a habit of talking with people who are perpetual “Gossipers” then make a change; do not frequent this company anymore. Read James Chapter 3, an excellent chapter in Scripture on the sins of the tongue!

2. DRESS PROPERLY.  We do not want to be an occasion of sin for others. Our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit from our Baptism. Saint Paul reminds us that we are ambassadors of Christ—that means representatives of the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. We should dress accordingly. When we say dress properly we do not mean only in Church, as if it were the only place where we should dress with decorum and modesty! Rather, dress modestly in all times and places. Never forget: we are Christians 24/7—24 hours a day / 7 days a week! Meaning always!!!

3. AVOID BAD COMPANY IN GENERAL.  Saint Paul says that bad company corrupts morals. This proverb succinctly expresses this truth: Tell me with whom you associate and I will tell you who you are. We do not have to be rocket scientists to know that we tend to imitate our friends and associates. Pray for the grace to find a friend or two who is really a noble, honest, pure, hard-working Christian and you will have discovered a real blessing. Old Testament Wisdom teaches us that to find a true friend is to find a treasure.

4. WANDERING EYES.  Another proverb apropos of this concept: Curiosity killed the cat. Worse yet, the wandering eyes of King David resulted in adultery with Bathsheba, and eventually even the murder of her husband, the valiant and honest Hittite soldier Urias. (2 Sam 11) The holy man Job asserted: “I have made a pact with my eyes: not to look upon a woman.” (Job 31:1) Finally, Jesus drives the point home with one of the Beatitudes: “Blessed are the pure of heart; they will see God.” (Mt 5:8) In a world abounding with impure images, human and electronic, more than ever do we need to practice strict custody of the senses, especially our eyes!

5. IMPULSIVITY.  Another attitude or disposition that we must avoid is that of giving into our impulsivity in all ways, but especially in speech. A good proverb: Think before you speak. Another somewhat down to earth proverb for those who speak before thinking is the following: Open mouth, insert foot. Lifted to a more spiritual level, Saint James admonishes us: “We should be quick to listen, and slow to speak.” (Jas. 1:19) Saint Thomas Aquinas offers this important insight: “God has given us two ears and one mouth so as to listen twice as much as we speak.” Meditate on this before speaking up!!!

6. ELECTRONIC MEDIA.  Of paramount importance for all of us who now live in this electronic cosmos is the dire need to have strict surveillance over our use of all the current electronic media. “Obviously we would never open up our mouth to shovel in garbage” Venerable Fulton Sheen once stated, but we can easily be imbibing and absorbing with our eyes moral garbage. A good vomit can release the physical garbage consumed. However, it can take years to expunge and delete ugly images that we have seen from one of the many sources in the modern world of electronic media. Our mind is a huge archive that stores all of our experiences—all that we have done, as well as all that we have seen. Therefore, we must be very strict with ourselves and with our children in what we bring into our mind and heart through what we see.

7. COUCH-POTATO SYNDROME!!!  Another proverb for you: Idleness is the workshop of the devil. In other words, if you don’t have anything to do, the devil will give you plenty of things to do! Saint John Bosco had a mortal fear of vacation time for the youth/teens. Work is good for all of us. Work perfects our nature by helping us cultivate our talents. Work serves as a means of helping others. Work was what God commanded of Adam after Original Sin: “You will earn your bread by the sweat of your brow.” (Gen. 3:19)

8. MENTAL LAZINESS.  As a follow-up to Number 7, the Couch-Potato Syndrome, is the reality of mental laziness. Another youthful slogan: If you don’t use it, you lose it. God has endowed all of us with a mind that He desires us to cultivate. A garden that is not cultivated will quickly grow weeds. A mind that is not cultivated allows for the growth of mental weeds. This mental laziness can be prevented or corrected through the excellent habit of good reading. We have never lived in a world with so much confusion. However, we have never lived in a world with so much good literature! It is up to us to find good literature and form the habit of reading. Some of our best friends can be good books! Saint Ignatius received the grace of his conversion by reading good books on the lives of the Saints!

9. AVOID OVER-EATING.  Gluttony is one of the seven capital sins. Definition of gluttony: It is a disordered desire to eat and drink. Many health problems result from bad eating habits. Also, these three of the seven capital sins – Gluttony, Lust, and Laziness –often work together as a team to drive us into actual sin, and serious sin at that! Want a remedy? Here goes! Pray for an authentic hunger for Jesus, The Bread of Life. (Read John Chapter 6: 25-71—the Bread of Life discourse). In the Our Father we pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.” This can be interpreted in a sacramental way—the habit of going to daily Mass and receiving Jesus in Holy Communion, the true Bread of Life! He will help us subordinate the desires of our body to the command of our will!

10. AVOID THE PROTESTANT VIEW OF MARY. Many Protestants reject vehemently the power of the intercession of Mary, to their own serious spiritual detriment. Mary will never, and I say never, distance us from Jesus. On the contrary, as Saint Louis de Montfort asserts: “Mary is the quickest, safest, and shortest path to Jesus.” If you like, Mary is the short-cut to union with Jesus. The last words of Mary recorded in Sacred Scripture were spoken at the Wedding Feast of Cana: “Do whatever He tells you.” (Jn. 2:5) No doubt, the best advice in the entire world! Our Lady serves as a bridge to union with Jesus.

Listen to the words of the Cure of Ars, Saint John Marie Vianney: “Everything that the Son asks of the Father is granted. Likewise, everything that the Mother asks of her Son is granted.” Saint Ephrem, with his mystical and poetic flare exclaims: “The incomparable Mother of God is the purest golden censer. In her, prayers are offered to the Eternal God.” Finally, prayerfully meditate upon the words of Saint Maximilian Kolbe: “Place yourself in Mary’s hands; she will think of everything and provide for the needs of body and soul. Therefore, be at peace, be at complete peace, with unlimited confidence in her.”

CONCLUSION. It is most true that we must avoid all the dangers that can so easily jeopardize the health of our body, that which pertains to our natural life. However, we should make a firm decision on our part, and for the benefit of those entrusted to our care, to avoid all the moral poison that can possibly kill the spiritual life in our soul. May Our Lady attain for us the grace to love God with all of our heart, mind, body and soul so that one day heaven will be our perpetual home and perpetual resting place! Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us poor sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

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

Tuesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

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

TUESDAY, AUGUST 17th   Mt. 19: 23-30   Jesus said, “Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.”

• Today, let us give thanks and pray for all consecrated men and women who have followed the call of Christ—set aside and given over for a sacred purpose, to light the path for us to reach our eternal home!
• Then let us especially give thanks and pray for all those men who have answered Christ’s call, “Come and follow me” to the priesthood! They are Alter Christus—another Christ!

THE DIGNITY AND VOCATION OF PRIESTS by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

Jesus said: “The Harvest is rich but the laborers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send more laborers.” (Mt. 9:37-38)  Essential to the extension of the Kingdom and the salvation of souls is the Sacrament of Holy Orders, that we call the priesthood.

One of the greatest priests in the history of the Church, who spent close to forty years in the Parish of Ars, spending from thirteen to eighteen hours on a daily basis in the confessional reconciling souls to God, commented on the indispensable presence of the priesthood. This was Saint John M. Vianney, known as the Cure of Ars (1786-1859). This saint knew the extraordinary value of the priesthood: “A good shepherd, a pastor after God’s heart, is the greatest treasure which the good Lord can grant to a parish, and one of the most precious gifts of divine mercy.”

Let us listen to the exact words of the Cure of Ars and then give the application to our spiritual lives. Some of the words and quotations of the Cure of Ars are overwhelming in depth and beauty, but of the utmost simplicity. Let us read, meditate, and then apply:

“O how great is the priest! If he realized what he is he would die… God obeys him: he utters a few words and the Lord descends from Heaven at his voice, to be contained within a small host. Without the Sacrament of Holy Orders, we would not have the Lord. Who put him there in the tabernacle? The priest. Who welcomed your soul at the beginning of life? The priest. Who feeds your soul and gives it strength for the journey? The priest. Who will prepare it to appear before God, bathing it one last time in the blood of Jesus Christ? The priest—always the priest. And if the soul should happen to die (as a result of sin) who will raise it up, who will restore its calm and peace? Again the priest. After God, the priest is everything. Only in heaven will he fully realize what he is.”

Following will be a brief commentary on all the sublime functions the priest carries out to glorify God in heaven and for the salvation of the souls on earth.

If there is no priest, then there is no Holy Mass; if there is no Holy Mass, then there is no consecration of the Host; if there is no consecration of the Host, then there is no Holy Communion; if there is no Holy Communion, there is no Sacramental Presence of Jesus. That means we are spiritual orphans. We become like a ship without a port, an arrow without a target, a scout without a compass, a dog without his master. We wander through life aimless and with no clear purpose.

The same great Saint made the following observation. In all the key spiritual moments in our lives, who is present? Baptism? Usually it is the priest whom God uses as the instrument to transform the child into a son or daughter of God. Confession? It is only the priest who is the means by which we are reconciled to God, through the outpouring of the Blood of the Lamb that cleanses our souls and consciences of the sin and guilt that weighs us down so heavily. Finally, we can experience true peace of soul! First Holy Communion? It was the priest who celebrated Holy Mass, confected the Eucharist, and gave us the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus the Lord.

Confirmation? It was the Bishop, who has the fullness of the priesthood, who confirmed us, by which we were fortified by the presence of the Holy Spirit, ready to be soldiers of Christ to both spread and defend the faith. What about Holy Matrimony? It was most likely the priest who sat down explaining the sublime vocation of Holy Matrimony, the importance of being faithful until death do we part, and the importance of being open to life and bringing forth children into the world, so that one day they will be eternal citizens of Heaven.

Anointing of the Sick? It is the priest whom we spontaneously call when we see a grandparent, our mother or father, or any other person’s health so seriously declining that they might die. It is the priest who anoints them with holy oil by which they are strengthened to fight the good fight, and unite their sufferings to the sufferings of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Death and burial? Who is present at the Funeral Mass praying for our loved one who has passed away and has gone to be judged by Jesus, who will come to judge the living and the dead? We all must pass through the gateway of death, and pass from the realm of time into eternity. It is the priest, acting in the person of Christ while celebrating Holy Mass, who offers the Victim, Jesus to the Father for the purification and salvation of this immortal soul.

Family problems?  Often when family problems set in, who is it that the family will have recourse to as a means to work through these tangled, intricate and knotty problems?  Frequently, it is the person of the priest who comes to mind. The priest becomes the listener, the sounding board, the counselor as well as the consoler to save the family from capsizing and sinking into the depths of sadness and oblivion! It is the priest who, like a human sponge, absorbs all of their problems in his heart and offers them to Jesus, the Eternal priest, for healing and salvation.

Sorrows and sufferings of all sorts? When sorrows, sufferings, contradictions, and depression visit our homes and hearts, who is it that we seek out for help with problems that seem beyond the realm of solution? It is the priest!  It is the priest who listens to the problems. It is the priest who opens up his heart to hear and understand. It is the priest who is called to the ministry of compassion. Exactly what does this word compassion mean? Compassion means the willingness and the ability to suffer with those who suffer.

Listening?  Who is the one we seek out to listen to our inner anguish and agony, because we know that others either do not know how to listen or they simply do not want to listen? The priest is the one we seek out to be heard, listened to, and understood. How true this is! Often we come to the priest when overloaded with moral, emotional, and spiritual baggage that we do not know where to dump, or how to be alleviated from this burdensome weight. The priest is the one who receives us and invites us to be open, to bare our hearts, and reveal our tortured consciences.

Listening and healing. How often this is the scenario! We unload all of our baggage and the priest is there to listen. We weep, cry, complain, get angry, and blurt out nonsensical ideas in our anguish and confusion. And the hands on the clock fly by—already 50 minutes and then an hour has flown by! The poor priest barely opened up his mouth to say a word! Yet, after this session of unloading, we get up renewed and energized, with healing and hope. Overflowing in gratitude, we tell the priest thanks a million for having been of great help to resolve these—so to speak—impossible problems!

Prayer? How often have we felt totally overwhelmed with life and problems that seem like a mountain in size and weight? We want help and we know only God can help us. Who then is it that we turn to with faith and trust to intercede on our behalf and to pray for us so that this problem will be resolved or at least we can cope with the problem better? It is the priest. The priest becomes the intercessor or the mediator for us between heaven and earth.

Our Lady. Let us then turn to Our Lady who is the Mother of God, the Mother of the Church, the Mother or all mankind, but especially she is the Mother of priests. Let us beg Our Lady to place her mantle of love and protection and comfort over all priests so that they will be protected from the fiery darts of the enemy, and also, that they will be protected from the devil of discouragement. Let us beg Our Lady to pray for priests that they will strive with all of the energy in their minds, hearts and souls to conform themselves to Jesus the High and eternal priest. May Our Lady’s prayers help them to recognize that Jesus is the High and Eternal priest—how lofty and sublime—but also that Jesus is very close to them as their best Friend in time, and He will be their best Friend in heaven for all eternity!

Monday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

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

MONDAY, AUGUST 16th   Mt. 19: 16-22   “Jesus said to him, ‘If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.’ When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had a great many possessions.”                                                                                                                  

• Jesus goes on to say to his disciples: “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt. 19:23)
• Earlier, Jesus teaches us: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Mt. 6:19-21)

THE RICH YOUNG MAN AND GREED… by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

Erich Fromm, a modern psychologist coined this immortal maxim: “If you are what you have, and you lose what you have, who are you?” The greatest Rock n’ Roll group ever, the Beatles, composed a song, “Money can’t buy me love.” Someone else has offered this pearl of wisdom: “Your possessions, possess you!” The Bible, the Word of God, expresses the same truth succinctly: “Love for money is the root of all evil!” (1Tim 6:10) Greed, also called “avarice”, is one of the seven Capital Sins. In this brief essay we would like to define Greed, explain its origin, and describe practical steps to overcome this interior attitude that must be overcome if one truly desires to attain to a fully developed Christian life and become a saint!

ORIGIN!  The Capital Sin of Greed is like the other six capital sins in that its origin can be traced back to our first parents when they committed the first sin, known as Original Sin. Their sin has universal repercussions upon the totality of the human race, as well as all of creation, until the end of time. It is like a tsunami of immorality set off by two people and influencing every human being, with the exception of Jesus, God become man, and Mary, His mother, who was preserved from original sin and all personal sin by privilege of her role as Mother of the Redeemer! The Angelic Doctor, St. Thomas Aquinas, calls it “concupiscence” — the interior tendency, proclivity or inclination that pulls or tugs us towards evil or sin!

DEFINITION!  Greed is the disordered desire for material things. The Book of Genesis constantly reminds us that all of creation is “good.” The evil is not to be found in creation, but in the human heart’s disordered desire for it! Actually, two of the Ten Commandments refer directly to Greed: the 7th – “Thou shalt not steal”, and the 10th – “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s goods.”

A rich young man who knew the Ten Commandments approached Jesus and asked the Lord the way to eternal life. Jesus told him to obey the Ten Commandments; he claimed to have done this. Then Jesus looked at him with love and challenged him: “If you want to be perfect, go sell what you have, give it to the poor, then come and follow me!” (Mt. 10: 17-22) The young man’s face fell and he left the Lord sad. The reason? His possessions, possessed him! He had many possessions and was overly attached to them, preferring them to the Person of Jesus Christ! Never again does he appear in the Gospels!

In a society that has an over-abundance of things, becoming inordinately attached can happen almost imperceptibly, like the frog being boiled to death in a pot of water that is slowly being heated to the boiling point!

Judas Iscariot fell in love with money and fell out of love with Jesus Christ! Ananias and Sapphira, husband and whom we find in the Acts of the Apostles, were infected with greed and were struck dead for lying to Saint Peter about how much money they had. At the root cause was greed, their insatiable desire for money and “things”.

A striking parable related to the dangers of greed, is the parable of Lazarus and the Rich man (Lk. 16: 19-31). A poor man, Lazarus, lies outside the gate of the rich man day and night. His body is filled with sores, even the dogs come to lick his sores, and he is dying of hunger. What a piteous state! In contrast, the rich man is dressed in fine purple and feasts sumptuously at the table every day. Never once does he lift his hand to offer Lazarus as much as a piece of bread.

After their deaths, the Rich man finds himself in torture in the pit of hell and longing for a drop of water to refresh his tongue from the fiery torments. Meanwhile, the poor man, Lazarus, rests in heaven in the bosom of Father Abraham.

What was the principle reason for the eternal loss of the Rich man? It was not for anything he did—the sin of commission; rather, it was for what he failed to do—the sin of omission. His greed blinded him totally to the poor man outside his gate, Lazarus, who was really Jesus Christ in disguise. “Jesus said, ‘I was hungry and you failed to feed me; I was thirsty and you failed to give me to drink… Whatever you failed to do for the least of my brothers, that you failed to do for me.’ And these will go away to eternal punishment.” (Mt. 25: 42,46).

How then can we conquer the sin of greed that might be lurking or hiding in the depths of our soul? Let’s give some concrete steps or advice to win the battle!

1. ADMIT IT AND CONFESS IT!  If after a thorough examination of conscience and consultation with your Spiritual Director or Confessor, you have detected greed as an insidious worm gnawing away at your interior life, then admit it, confess it, and beg for healing. Jesus is the “Spiritual Physician” of our soul. He has come to heal the wounds of our sins!

2.  MEDITATE ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST!  A constant and deep meditation on the life of Jesus can help to transform our spiritual perspective, our outlook on life and on material reality, and even the attitude of our heart. Follow this brief thumbnail sketch of His life: born in the stable of Bethlehem of poor parents, spent years working as a carpenter, forty days and nights in the desert fasting from all food and drink, three years without any permanent abode, stripped of His garments and scourged, nailed to the cross and abandoned by nearly everyone, dying and giving up almost every drop of His Precious Blood, finally being buried in a borrowed tomb—all of this a summary of the life of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God!

3. MEDITATE ON THE LAST THINGS!  One day I will die, be judged by Jesus, and either Heaven or Hell awaits me. Looking at my many possessions, are they a stepping stone or stumbling block for me to arrive at heaven? Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” (Mt. 6: 24) The richest man in the world and the poorest man will end up in the same place: six feet beneath the ground! Saint Francis Borgia. S.J., the Duke of Gandhi, admired the beautiful Queen who died suddenly. As he followed the casket of the Queen, the door of the casket popped open, and Francis saw this beautiful woman with her face being eaten by worms! Upon meditating on the transitory reality of beauty and wealth, Francis left all to enter the Religious life and became a Jesuit, a priest, and then a great saint!

4.  LEARN TO GIVE GENEROUSLY!  St. Paul challenges us to give! “There is more joy in giving than in receiving!” (Acts: 20: 35) Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who gave all away to follow Jesus in serving the poorest of the poor, asserted: “Give until it hurts!” One of the greatest modern saints, Mother Teresa’s lifelong desire was to quench the thirst of Jesus by serving the poorest of the poor. For her, Jesus was truly present in the “distressing disguise of the poor.”

5.  DO NOT WORRY, BUT TRUST IN GOD’S PROVIDENTIAL CARE.  In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warns us not to worry, especially about material things—food or clothing. “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Mt. 6: 26) The key is these words of Jesus: “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and everything else will be given to you.” (Mt. 6: 33)  Consider this, if you receive Jesus in Holy Communion, then you indeed are the richest of all! Having God living within the depths of your soul is already living out the Kingdom of God that is truly within! Remember: “If God is with us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8: 13)

Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 

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

SUNDAY, AUGUST 15th    Lk. 1: 39-56   SOLEMNITY OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN                                                                                                                                               

“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.”

WHO IS MARY? THE GREATEST OF ALL WOMEN!!! By Father Ed Broom, OMV

Of all the women in the history of the created universe, of all of humanity in all the centuries of history, for all time as well for all eternity, the greatest is the person of MARY. Never has there been a woman depicted in art more often than Mary through the course of human history—Ancient times, Middle Ages, Renaissance period, and Modern times. Mary is the most widely painted woman in the vast expanse of world history, most notably in Iconography (form of imagery, writing, and prayer) in the Eastern Church, as well as in the Latin Church.

LITERATURE. In literature and poetry Mary is a central figure. The Glories of Mary by Saint Alphonsus Ligouri is a Marian Masterpiece that everyone should read to know and love Mary better! One of the most touching Marian poems was penned by the Mellifluous Doctor, Saint Bernard, entitled STELLA MARIS—Mary, the Star of the Sea. Then there is the literary masterpiece of Anatole France, The Juggler of Our Lady, from which commentaries, movies, and writings abound in galore! Of course one of the greatest works of literature of all time, composed by Dante, the Divine Comedy, introduces Mary in many cantos or stanzas. For example, in Purgatory, Mary is presented in counter-position to the Capital Sin of Sloth, in that Mary moved in haste to visit her cousin Elizabeth. Then, as his literary poem nears its majestic conclusion, Dante ascends with Saint Bernard to the sublime and mystical heights of Heaven where Mary is depicted as THE MYSTICAL ROSE, beyond which the Holy Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—is encountered in the Beatific Vision!

MUSIC. Mary has her place in music. Many writers of music over the course of the centuries have composed such hymns as the Ave Maria in Latin—the official language of the Catholic Church, the Hail Holy Queen, Immaculate Mary, and Sing of Mary, just to mention a few. These are gems among the precious jewels in the traditional Catholic musical heritage. 

ART. In the realm of art, in paintings and icons as mentioned, but also in other art forms, Mary has been depicted and portrayed in her beauty, her elegance, her purity, and her magnetism over the past 2,000 years. One of the most famous and loved is the Pieta, sculpted by Michelangelo. In a modern form of art, many films of Mary have been produced, timeless classics that inspire us.

NAMES. Even with respect to naming a girl-child, the name of Mary in one form or another has won favor and acclaim. Mary, Maryann, Rose, Lourdes, Fatima, Guadalupe, Concepcion, Assumpta—are some of these beautiful names! What a blessing to have as one’s patron saint, Mary the Mother of God.

MARY: IN THE HEART OF THE TRINITY, THE CHURCH, THE SAINTS, THE BIBLE, AND OUR OWN HEARTS!

IN THE TRINITY. Mary has a central and intimate place, as well as role, in the very heart of the greatest Mystery of Christianity—the Most Blessed Trinity: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Mary is the Daughter of God the Father; Mary is the Mother of God the Son; Mary is the Mystical Spouse of God the Holy Spirit. In sum, Mary is the living Tabernacle and Sanctuary of the Blessed Trinity!

IN THE CHURCH. The Council Fathers of the Second Vatican Council gave Mary a very special role. The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium, Chapter VIII, presents the Blessed Virgin Mary as THE MOTHER OF THE CHURCH. Once pronounced in the Assembly of the Council Fathers, there resounded an applause that was explosive and seemed to never end!

IN THE LIVES OF THE SAINTS. The saints have a very deep, tender, and loving devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. For that reason, among the many titles in the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary is that of Queen of the angels and saints! However, as in seeing beautiful colors emanate from a diamond through the process of refraction, or a rainbow painting the sky as sunlight breaks through after a torrential downpour of rain, Mary radiates God’s eternal beauty in the wide range of her various titles. Some of these are: Our Lady of Good Counsel (Saint Augustine), Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Saint Alphonsus Liguori), Our Lady Help of Christians (Saint John Bosco), Our Lady of Divine Mercy (Saint Faustina Kowalska), Our Lady, Queen of all hearts (Saint Louis de Montfort). In other words, each and every individual saint loved Mary but was able to contemplate her beauty and majesty in a different dimension.

IN THE BIBLE. Biblical typology or symbolism abound with respect to the person of Mary! Mary is seen as the Conqueror of the Ancient Serpent; Mary is depicted as the Second Eve; Mary is viewed as the Ark of the Covenant; Mary also is the Daughter of Zion; Mary can be seen as Queen-Mother as with Solomon and Bathsheba; then in Isaiah, Mary is the Virgin who has conceived a child who would be called Emmanuel—God with us!

WHAT ABOUT YOU AND ME: WHO IS MARY FOR US??? Saint Therese of Lisieux, one of the most known and loved of the modern saints, asserted with respect to Mary: “It is true that Our Lady is Queen of Heaven and earth, but she is more Mother than Queen.” We all need a mother. The qualities of a mother are many: she gives birth, nourishes, protects and defends, clothes, corrects, heals, educates, comforts and consoles, listens to and gives advice, but first and foremost a true mother loves her child from the very depths of her heart! With respect to our Mother Mary, It cannot be said with greater unction and eloquence than in these words of Saint Augustine, son of Saint Monica: “If we were to take the love of all the mothers of all times and all places, the love of Mary our Mother would be greater than the love of all these mothers together!” With these moving words of Saint Augustine, may we have a total, unreserved, unlimited, loving trust in the Blessed Virgin Mary who indeed is the Mother of God, the Lord Jesus Christ; the Mother of the Church (Lumen Gentium, Chapter VIII, Vatican II); but most especially, your Mother and mine, in time and for all eternity!!!

OUR HOPE AND DESIRE. Our hope and desire is that your mind, heart, and soul will be filled with a tender, filial, confident, loving and total self-giving of your whole being to Jesus through the loving hands of Mary. Our hope, desire, and prayer is that your growing knowledge and love for Mary will set your heart on fire with love for Jesus, her Son, so that when you die you will be welcomed by Jesus and Mary into heaven. We pray that one day you will be a splendid jewel in the crown of Mary to contemplate the Face of God—the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—for all eternity!!!

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