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

SUNDAY, July 25th   Jn. 6: 1-15   “One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him, ‘There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?’”

• What good are these for so many indeed! And how can the little good that I can do in my life bring about the Kingdom of God on earth?
• Jesus’ multiplication of the loaves and fishes in today’s Gospel answers these questions. It is not about the “little good that I can do” but about what Christ does with that “little good.” Christ is the only Savior of the world. But He chooses not to save us without our participation! The little good that each of us can do.   

THE BOY & THE LOAVES AND FISHES by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

Try to picture the scene. Jesus is surrounded by thousands. There is not enough for these poor people to eat. The solution is found in one simple way—the little boy with the loaves and fishes. Perhaps Andrew asked other people who brought food, to share their food, and they refused.

God often uses little people, with little to offer, but with large and generous hearts to carry out extraordinary miracles. This short meditation is on the multiplication of the loaves and the fishes that the little boy generously gave to Jesus. 

Following are different reactions the boy might have had regarding the loaves and fishes that he brought. Of the many options below, without knowing what Jesus was going to do with the loaves and fishes, which of these actions might you have taken? Knowing what Jesus actually did with the loaves and fishes, what action do you wish you would have taken?

1. Run away. When the little boy saw Andrew approaching, he could have simply run away and avoided the question.

2. Hide. Another option might have been to hide the loaves and fishes underneath a blanket his parents had.

3. Lie. He could have lied and said that these belonged to somebody else and were not his to give away, since they did not really belong to him.

4. Look for someone else who had food. This was another option—he could have avoided the issue by pointing at others who had food that they could share.

5. Selfishly refuse to give up his food. There was always this option. The boy could have simply said “No”! They were his and he had no intention of giving up anything. Looking at others without food, he might have thought: “I came prepared and you did not; you should suffer the consequences for your lack of preparation.”

6. Yes, but half and half. Or he could have compromised. Share what he had, keeping half and giving half away. At least this was a sign of good will!

7. Give it all away. As we know from the Scriptural passage, the boy did none of the above, but rather he gave away all he had, every morsel of the bread and the fishes that were his.

QUALITIES TO BE ADMIRED IN THIS LITTLE BOY!

1. GENEROSITY. The little boy did not delay in giving. He did not give part of what he had, keeping part for himself. He did not give begrudgingly, half-heartedly, with a frown on his face. He did not give looking for anything in return.

2. TRUST. He did not worry about going hungry. He just gave and trusted.

3. LOVE FOR JESUS. He gave his all to Andrew, but was he really was giving his all to Jesus.

What would have been your response to Andrew’s request at that moment in time? Where is your heart now in showing generosity to God and to others?

PRAY OVER THESE QUESTIONS:

1. Running? Are you and your conscience running away from God and from others?

2. Hiding? Is there something in your life that you are hiding from God, your Confessor, and even your own conscience?

3. Lying? Are you lying to yourself in one way or another about what you have done or not done?

4. Pointing to others? Do you have the habit of pointing a finger at others, while running away from your own responsibilities? Are you aware of the fact that your actions have consequences?

5. Selfishness or egotism? Are you selfish? Do you simply refuse to give what God is asking you to give to Him and to others? Do you have your hands and fists clenched so tight that neither God nor man can take anything from them?

6. Half-hearted? Or is it such that you are giving to God and to others but only half-heartedly, by half-measures. In your heart of hearts, you know that God is asking much more from you, but you do not want to leave your comfort-zone, your Linus’ blanket, your nesting place?

Finally, we admire the little boy for his generosity, his trust in Jesus, and his love for Jesus. St. Ignatius of Loyola has a word for this: MAGNANIMITY!

This key Ignatian word means to have a great soul, open for great things, and a willingness to give all to God, and to trust God for everything we need in return!

Let us all beg Jesus, Our Lord and Mary, our Mother to grow in this all-encompassing virtue of Magnanimity! And so fly to heaven some day on the wings of Magnanimity!

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

SATURDAY, July 24th   Mt. 13: 24-30   “Jesus proposed a parable to the crowds. ‘The Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field. While everyone was asleep his enemy came and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off. When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well.’”

• Which one are we? The weeds or the wheat? The answer is both! We are saints in the making; we haven’t arrived yet. But with God’s grace let us resolve to be on our way! Fr. Ed gives us the roadmap!

UNIVERSAL CALL TO HOLINESS: BE A SAINT! By Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

No doubt: the best way to transform the world into a better place is to strive to become a saint. Many stare at you shocked if you tell them that they are called to become a saint. “Me, a saint? That is not for me!”

The reason for this shock is that many do not know what God’s will is for us! God wants each and every one of us to become a saint, even more than we want to become a saint.  Many think that a saint must work extraordinary miracles while on earth. The saint should be able to bilocate, heal the sick, raise the dead, and stop the course of the sun. Actually, none of these are necessary for one to become a saint. True, after death, miracles must be attributed to the holy person who will be beatified and eventually canonized a saint.

Jesus commands us to become saints! Jesus said with the utmost clarity on this topic of the universal call to holiness: “Be holy as your Heavenly Father is holy.” (Mt. 5:48) In the Sermon on the Mount, one of the Beatitudes reiterates the same theme: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for holiness; they will be filled.” (Mt.5:6) Saint Paul in his Letter to the Thessalonians repeats the topic: “This is the will of your Heavenly Father, your sanctification.” (1Thess. 4:3)

Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta expressed holiness in these concise but penetrating words: “Holiness is not the privilege of the few, but the duty of all.” Saint Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer (Founder of Opus Dei) lamented in these words: “The biggest crisis in the world is the lack of saints.” The French writer of the 1900’s, Leon Bloy quipped: “The greatest tragedy in the world is to not become the saint that God calls us to be.”

One of the most authoritative documents in the modern world, from the Second Vatican Council, the Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium, Chapter V, focuses on one specific topic: The Universal Call to Holiness. In a word, the Council Fathers insist on the moral imperative and imperious obligation that all people, from all places, cultures, and backgrounds, must strive to become holy. All must do their part in trying to become saints.

Want heaven: become a saint! In fact, all of those in heaven have arrived at holiness; they are saints. Many, probably most in heaven might be termed anonymous saints. By this is meant that they were not canonized—that is, declared officially to be saints. Still, they are saints!

Therefore, taking into account this “Universal Call to Holiness”, we will proceed to highlight some practical guidelines or suggestions that can serve as a motivation or stimulus for us in striving to become the saint that God has called each of us to be. Indeed, without practical guidelines and a true spiritual GPS—or roadmap, the pursuit of holiness will prove very arduous. Athletes need coaches; writers, mentors; and artists, models. So it is with those pursuing holiness of life—guidelines and pointers, in the right direction of course—are indispensable.

1. GOD’S GRACE. First and foremost, we need God’s grace. In fact, without His grace we can do nothing in the pursuit of holiness. We can sin abundantly, but trying to live a life of holiness without God’s grace is a pursuit in futility.

2. PRAYER. Normally God’s grace is funneled and communicated through the channel of prayer. Saints spend time daily in prayer. Ven. Fulton Sheen called it his daily Hour of Power! Prayer is communing with God; He does the work of sanctification and transformation. Specifically, in prayer it is the Holy Spirit, the Sanctifier who transforms us from sinner to saint.

3. WILL IT! On one occasion the sister of the Angelic Doctor, Saint Thomas Aquinas, asked her brother how she might become a saint. Aquinas responded concisely with two words: WILL IT!!! It is true that God’s grace precedes every good action. In the Theology of grace this is termed: Prevenient grace. However, there must be an active collaboration with God’s grace. In other words, God will always do His part, but then we must do ours!

4. AVOID OBSTACLES. On the part of the future saint, there must be a sincere, concerted effort to avoid the near occasions of sin. The saying is so true: “He who plays with fire will be burnt; he who plays in danger will perish in it.” Sin indeed is the major obstacle in the pursuit of holiness. This should be avoided like the plague. However, if we fall, confess as soon as possible and begin again!

5. READ THE LIVES OF THE SAINTS. Another great help in our pursuit of holiness is developing the habit of good spiritual reading. Why not give fifteen minutes on a daily basis to reading the lives of the saints. By doing so, we start to form a criterion on how the saints lived, acted, prayed, thought, spoke and how they arrived at this heroic degree of virtue. Reading their lives will stimulate us to imitate their actions and virtuous path. Saint Ignatius of Loyola received many graces in his process of conversion by reading the lives of the saints. He made a determined determination to be like them! And it happened!

6. HOLY SPIRIT: THE SANCTIFIER. One of the many titles attributed to the Holy Spirit is The Sanctifier— meaning, He who makes us holy. Pope Saint John XXIII stated: “The saints are the Masterpieces of the Holy Spirit.” Davinci, Michelangelo, Dante, Shakespeare—all became artistic or literary Masters in their prospective fields. The prospective field of the Holy Spirit is that of forming and molding men and women into saints. Pray to the Holy Spirit every day to make you a saint!

7. SACRAMENTAL LIFE. As members of the Mystical Body of the Church, the most efficacious channels for grace flow through the Sacraments. Sacraments are exterior signs instituted by Christ to confer grace. By receiving Confession, as well as the Holy Eucharist, frequently and with excellent disposition of heart, mind, and soul,  graces will rain down into your soul like a deluge. In Confession, Jesus heals us as the Divine Physician. In Holy Communion, Jesus nourishes and strengthens our soul with His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.

8. JOYFUL PRESENCE. A key quality in the lives of the saints is JOY!!! The person who lives with joy in his heart has wind in his sails in his spiritual journey; he can overcome many obstacles in climbing the mountain of holiness. The devil suffers mortal blows when in the company of a joyful person. Also, a joyful disciple of Jesus appeals and attracts others like a magnet! J.O.Y. means Jesus, Others, You. That is to say, put Jesus first, Others second, and Yourself last!!! This is the secret to true Joy!

9. HEAVEN: HOME OF THE SAINTS! An enormous stimulus or motivation on our highway to holiness is to constantly have our goal before our eyes—Heaven! God created us for one purpose: to be happy with Him forever in Heaven! Saint Paul exhorts us not to look to the earth but to have our eyes fixed on the heavenly realm where Jesus is seated at the right hand of God the Father. If we thought more about Heaven—the Joy, and the Presence and Friendship with God, the angels and the saints, and Mary, the Queen of angels and saints, then our crosses would be easier to bear.

10. MARY: THE QUEEN OF ANGELS AND SAINTS. Finally, Mary can be of enormous assistance in our pursuit of holiness, in our desire to become saints. Indeed, Mary is the Queen of angels and saints. Pray to Mary; love Mary, call on Mary; love and pray the Rosary. And Mary will remain close to you all your life and help you to arrive safe and sound to your Heavenly Home!

Conclusion. Let us all, starting right now, strive to live out the command of Jesus: “Be Holy as your heavenly Father is holy.” (Mt. 5:48)  The only thing that really matters in life is to become a saint. May this be our goal and may we attain it through the grace of God and the prayers of Mary, the full of grace and the Queen of angels and saints!

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

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

FRIDAY, July 23rd   Mt. 13: 18-23   “But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirty-fold.”

Praying is sowing seeds on rich soil! Consider what the saints have to say about prayer.

++ “It is simply impossible to lead a virtuous life without the aid of prayer.”  –St. John Chrysostom

++ “How often I failed in my duty to God, because I was not leaning on the strong pillar of prayer.”  –St. Teresa of Avila

++ “Virtues are formed by prayer. Prayer preserves temperance. Prayer suppresses anger. Prayer prevents emotions of pride and envy. Prayer draws into the soul the Holy Spirit, and raises man to Heaven.”  –St. Ephraem of Syria

++ “Purity is the fruit of prayer.”  –St. Mother Teresa

++ “My little children, your hearts are small, but prayer stretches them and makes them capable of loving God.” — St. John Vianney

The prayers most efficacious in drawing human hearts to the Heart of their Creator are the Psalms. Today, Fr. Ed guides us through the richness of praying with the Psalms.

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD, NOTHING SHALL I LACK. (PSALM 23) by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

INTRODUCTION: The 150 Psalms is the Prayer-book par excellence! Inspired by the Holy Spirit, the Psalms express the basic feelings, emotions, affections of the human heart. In a word, one of the most efficacious tools to learn to pray, grow in prayer, and persevere in prayer would be to plunge into the infinite ocean of spirituality present in the Psalms.

Praise and adoration, thanksgiving and oblation, supplication and petition, wonder and awe, contrition and reparation—all of these and many more are the sentiments of prayer that the Book of Psalms offers us.

FAMOUS AND MOST LOVED OF ALL THE PSALMS.  Now of all of the 150 Psalms, for many the most famous and most loved is Psalm 23—known as the Psalm of the Good Shepherd, opening with the consoling words: “The Lord is my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall lack….”

TIMES OF DARKNESS AND DESOLATION.  In those dark moments when we experience desolation, when all seems to be dark, dreary, cold, useless, even hopeless, why not lift your mind, heart, and prayer to Psalm 23—the Good Shepherd.

TIME, PLACE, SILENCE.  Find some time, some place (your prayer-corner), and silence where you can be alone with the Lord, and allow the Good Shepherd to walk before you, to walk with you at your side, and even allow the Good Shepherd to walk behind you. In all these different spaces the Good Shepherd is with you, thinking about you, and loving you.

Being keenly aware of the person of the Good Shepherd—who is truly Jesus Himself—and His great love and concern for you, will be a sure means to leave desolation and experience the peace and joy of God’s consolation.

Therefore, we invite you at any time during the course of your day to seek out the loving and friendly presence of the Good Shepherd, but especially when the dark clouds of desolation are descending upon your soul.

In this short essay we will offer a few ideas to help us come to know and love the Good Shepherd of our souls—Jesus our Lord, Savior and God.

PSALM 23: THE GOOD SHEPHERD OF MY SOUL

“The Lord is my Shepherd, there is nothing I lack. In green pastures you let me graze; to safe waters you lead me; you restore my strength.

You guide me along the right path, for the sake of your name.

Even when I walk through a dark valley, I fear no harm for you are at my side; your rod and staff give me courage.

You set a table before me as my enemies watch: you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Only goodness and love will pursue me all the days of my life; I will dwell in the house of the Lord for years to come.”

GETTING TO KNOW & LOVE THE GOOD SHEPHERD: POINTS FOR MEDITATION & PRAYER…

1. JESUS IS TRULY THE GOOD SHEPHERD of my life in its totality. Every dimension of my life, Jesus the Good Shepherd wants to guide, rule and protect.

2. I LACK NOTHING. Even if I were to lose all on a human level—money, home, friends, support, health and esteem, if I have Jesus as my Good Shepherd, I really lack nothing. Jesus indeed is the Way, the Truth, the Life, my alpha and omega, my beginning and end, my Principle and Foundation. Jesus is my sure and stable support. If I have Jesus as the center of my life, I have all that I really need.

3. GREEN PASTURES AND SAFE WATERS. In green pastures the Good Shepherd will nourish and sustain me with sufficient food, clothing and shelter for my body. He will nourish me with His Word—the Bible, the Word of God. Blood and water gushed forth from His open side on the cross. His Body and Blood in the Eucharist will be nourishment for my soul. The waters have cleansed my soul through Baptism. These waters also symbolizes the cleansing power of the Sacrament of Confession so that my soul becomes clean again, as white as the snow.

4. STRENGTH. The Lord restores my strength. We are weak; we languish and lose our strength and vitality, but the Lord can restore it to us. In another Psalm: “Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth.” (Ps. 124:8)

5. THE RIGHT PATH. The Good Shepherd guides me along the right path for the sake of His Name. Jesus is THE WAY, TRUTH AND LIFE! He leads us on the straight and narrow path that leads to eternal life—that is to say: HEAVEN!!!

6. HIS NAME: JESUS THE GOOD SHEPHERD. The Name of Jesus is powerful and at HIS NAME all knees shall bow in heaven, on earth, and even below the earth. (Phil. 2:10) In desolation, I will repeat with love and confidence Jesus, Jesus, Jesus… the Good Shepherd of my soul!

7. DARK VALLEY.  We all have to pass through the Dark Valley in our lives. For St. Ignatius of Loyola this Dark Valley could be defined as desolation. All seems to be obscure, dark, cold, lonely, sad and depressing. We all experience the DARK VALLEY; desolation is part of being human. 

8. HOPE IN THE DARK VALLEY. No fear because Jesus, the Good Shepherd, is with me now more than ever. He will not abandon me. He Himself said: “I will be with you always, even until the end of the world.” (Mt. 28:20) Even now, He is at my side.

9. HIS ROD AND STAFF.  Every Good Shepherd is equipped with both ROD AND STAFF.  The staff supports the Shepherd and his sheep in traveling. The rod serves to ward off enemies—especially the prowling and ravenous wolves, the malicious packs of wolves. Indeed, the Good Shepherd will be with me in my spiritual battle against my three enemies: the devil, the flesh, and the world.

10. TABLE SET BEFORE ME. Once again, the Good Shepherd is intent upon feeding me. The nourishment and sustenance that the Good Shepherd provides for me is for both my mind and soul: the Word of God and the Holy Eucharist. The Good Shepherd has at Heart, my spiritual nourishment and the salvation of my immortal soul.

11. ANOINTS MY HEAD WITH OIL. The Good Shepherd has anointed me with the healing balm of oil. My anointing with oil took place at my Baptism. First, the oil of the catechumens, and then the chrism oil with which I was anointed priest, prophet, and king. This is true for all the faithful at Baptism. Whereas an ordained priest’s hands are also anointed so as the celebrate Holy Mass.

12. MY CUP OVERFLOWS. The cup/chalice symbolizes the Precious Blood of Jesus poured forth on Calvary on Good Friday for my purification, sanctification and salvation.  Jesus, the Good Shepherd does not give sparingly but in abundance.

13. ONLY GOODNESS AND KINDNESS PURSUE ME. Indeed, how true that goodness and kindness, love, joy, mercy, compassion and all the most sublime virtues will adorn my soul, if I walk side by side with the Good Shepherd.

14. DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD. My dwelling place will be the house of the Lord. The Good Shepherd will live in me if I maintain grace in my soul. I will visit the Lord’s House where He lives in the Tabernacle. Finally, my ultimate and final dwelling will be with the Lord in Heaven for all eternity. How consoling these truths!

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

Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene

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

THURSDAY, July 22nd  Jn. 20: 1-2, 11-18  “On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping.”

• Mary Magdalene has something in common with all the saints – an intense love for Jesus! A yearning to be with Him, to love Him, and to serve Him!
• In our meditation today, let us look at some of the saints in their great variety and in their similarities, and prayerfully consider what kind of saint God is calling each one of us to become!

CHURCH TRIUMPHANT: 10 INSIGHTS INTO THE SAINTS by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

Every year, the Church joyfully celebrates the Feast of All Saints. A classical ecclesiastical model divides the Church into three parts, but all belonging to the same family of God: the Church Triumphant, the saints in heaven, the Church Militant, those living soldiers on earth, fighting for their salvation, and finally, the Church Suffering—the souls in Purgatory, already saints but in need of purification to attain Heaven.

This meditation will focus on the Church Triumphant—the saints in heaven who have victoriously triumphed over their three primary enemies—the devil and his lies, the world and its seductions, and the flesh and its imperious disordered cravings!

Following are ten insights into the most captivating, heroic, appealing, joyful, tremendous people that walked on planet earth and now are permanent residents in heaven: God’s friends, but also your friends and mine—the saints!

1. Saints Are Not Born Saints 

 A somewhat prevalent error is to believe that the saints were actually born saints. Nothing could be further from the truth. All saints are conceived and born with Original Sin, with tendencies or inclinations that they must overcome and dominate relying not on their own efforts alone, but especially on the grace of God.

Actually, quite a few of the great saints lived very sinful past lives before their conversion, to name a few: the Good thief, Mary Magdalene, St. Augustine, St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Mary of Egypt, and St. Margaret of Cortona—known as the “Second Magdalene”.

2. You Are Called to Be a Saint

Often when teaching Confirmation, I will ask the students how many of them want to become saints. More often than not, nobody will raise their hand. Next I ask them how many want to avoid hell and go to heaven; now all their hands go up. Then I go on to explain that in heaven we have our Triune-God (The Blessed Trinity), the Blessed Virgin Mary, the angels and the saints. So, for you to go to heaven you have to become a saint!

3. Jesus Commands Us to Be Saints 

Listen to the words of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who is our model, especially in holiness of life: “Be holy as your heavenly Father is holy.” (Mt. 5:48) Grammatically, the tense is imperative, which means that this is a command from God Himself.

If God commands us to do something, He will give us sufficient grace to carry it out! God never commands the impossible, but always gives us the graces needed. As Jesus said to Saint Paul: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Cor. 12:9)  

Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta expressed this truth succinctly: “Sanctity is not the privilege of the few, but the duty of all.” The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium, Chapter V, is “The Universal Call to Holiness.” This is a must read for all who truly desire to become saints—check it out!

4. Saints Come From All Over 

Sanctity is not limited to one time, place, culture or ethnic group. Sanctity is open to all; rather, sanctity is commanded by Jesus for all.

Leaf through an anthology of saints and you will find the most diverse backgrounds and experiences. Some are nuns; others are priests, Bishops or Popes. Still others are married couples, as in the case of the parents of St. Therese of Lisieux — Saints Louis and Zelie Martin. Still other saints have embraced the single lay vocation like St. Giuseppe Moscati and Bl. Giorgio Frascati.

Some died very young — Dominic Savio, age 14, and Maria Goretti, 11 years of age. Francisco and Jacinta Marto are two of the youngest saints—he died at age 10 and she died at age 9. Then there are those who lived long lives—Saint Alphonsus lived into his nineties. Saint Anthony of the desert, as well as St. John the Evangelist, lived into their hundreds. Some died of sicknesses, many died as martyrs.

Sanctity cuts across and transcends time, place, culture, gender, intellectual formation or lack of it. All are called to become saints and all are given the grace!

5. Church Triumphant    

The saints can be classified as being in the Church Triumphant. They have fought the good fight, run the good race, and now they are in heaven, victoriously crowned by God for having conquered sin in their lives and for having relied on and trusted in God’s Infinite grace and His fathomless Mercy. Jesus said to Saint Faustina that the worst sinners can become the greatest saints if they simply trust in God’s Infinite Mercy!

We celebrate their feast day every year November 1^st—The Solemnity of All Saints!

6. The Saints & Their Help to Us                                                              

The saints can help us in many ways. However, two aspects of their presence can help us beyond measure. First, their power of Intercession! The saints can intercede for us before the throne of God and attain from God the necessary graces to help us avoid sin and practice virtue so that we can arrive at where they are now—the Kingdom of Heaven, the House of the Eternal Father. Second, the saints leave us from their lives a powerful example that we are challenged to imitate in our own lives.

Holy examples have an appeal and attraction that draw us almost like a magnetic pull! How often have saints been inspired by saints who lived before them, to follow on the demanding pathway of holiness? A perfect example is Saint Ignatius of Loyola who while recovering from being shot in the legs by a cannon ball in the Battle of Pamplona started to read the lives of the saints. He broke out in an enthusiastic cry: “If Francis can do it, so can I!”  Then, “If Dominic can do it, then so can I.” Saint Ignatius of Loyola was inspired to become a great saint by reading of the lives of holy men and women of God who lived before him.

7. Read the Lives of the Saints    

It can be an enormous stimulus and motivation for all of us to read the lives of the saints. This will fuel our engines and give us abundant food for thought on the path we must undertake to arrive at heroic virtue and holiness and to become the saints that God is calling us to become!

Why not buy the life of a saint that appeals to you or a text that has a short summary of various lives of the saints and read a few minutes before retiring for the night?

8. Qualities of the Saints  

When the Holy Father officially canonizes a saint, after the required miracles, the Pope is stating that this person practiced heroic virtue. Despite Original Sin and possibly a sinful past, the saint has decided to give up sin and fight against it. But more importantly, the saint has decided, with the help of God’s grace, to practice virtue, better yet heroic virtue.

This means that he practices virtue in his daily life constantly; not by fits and starts or only when he feels like it. No! There is a constant living out of heroic virtue, the practice of virtues that reflect sanctity of life.

9. Joy & the Saints  

One of the most evident signs of the presence of God in our lives is that of Joy. Saint Paul, in his letter to the Philippians, exhorts us with these words: “Rejoice in the Lord, I tell you again: rejoice in the Lord.” (Phil 4:4) The saints are filled with the Holy Spirit and are overflowing with an effusive Joy. Joy is one of the most clear and evident fruits of the Holy Spirit active and operative in the lives of the saints.

10. Our Lady, Queen of All the Saints   

Our Lady is the Queen of all of the saints. Our Lady is the most holy and the greatest of the saints. It is very difficult to find any saint who did not have a tender, loving, fervent and ardent love and devotion to Our Lady. Her prayers and example have motivated many men and women to pursue the path of holiness. For that reason we call out:  “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.”

May Our Lady’s prayers encourage you to become a great saint, starting right now!

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

WEDNESDAY, July 21st   Mt. 13: 1-9   “But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.”

• We reap what we sow. In the prayer that Jesus taught us, the Our Father, we pray, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” If we want to receive mercy, Our Lord says we must first give mercy.
• Today, let each one of us examine our conscience and our heart to see if we have truly forgiven everyone who has hurt us. If not, let us beg for the grace in this meditation to wholeheartedly forgive anyone against whom we still harbor a grudge.
• It is often not possible or even wise to do so in person. Standing before God and forgiving them from our heart is enough to set us free! Bitterness, anger and hatred are acid to our soul, eating away at it. Whereas mercy and forgiveness are a balm bringing peace and calm to our mind, heart, and soul.

Five Ways to Practice Forgiveness by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

The renowned English poet Alexander Pope stated: “To err is human; to forgive is divine.” How true this statement, but how difficult to carry out! At the same time, holding on to resentment is interior slavery. Whereas, truly forgiving is imitating God Himself, and setting the captive free, and that captive is us!

Frequently and in unequivocal terms, Jesus has reaffirmed the indispensable obligation of all to forgive those who hurt us, pray for our enemies, and even to do good to them if the opportunity presents itself! Once again, easier said than done! Actually without God’s grace, to forgive those who have wounded us, and to love and pray for our enemies, far transcends and supersedes our natural powers. In sum, we need Gods’ grace to forgive our enemies.

Jesus is our example in absolutely all we say, and do, and even think in our daily lives! Indeed, He said it clearly: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” (Jn. 14:6) Jesus first began by doing and then by preaching. First actions, then words. His very demanding teaching on forgiveness He lived to perfection at every stage and moment of His earthly existence.

What are some of the teachings of Jesus on mercy and forgiveness? Let’s meditate on a few of them. “Be merciful as your Heavenly Father is merciful.” (Lk. 6:36) In response to Peter’s generous willingness to forgive seven times, Jesus put no limits on it: “No, I say to you, not seven times, but forgive seventy times seven.” (Mt. 18:22) This is hyperbole for the imperious obligation to forgive always, without limits or reservations.

Then Jesus made a Liturgical/Mass allusion. He said if you come to Church to present your offering and you know that your brother has something against you, simply leave the offering at the foot of the altar, reconcile with your brother, and then return to offer the gift. In other words, to celebrate worthily the Liturgy we should strive to be at peace with our brothers and sisters, and not be angry and resentful towards anybody.

Then in the most famous prayer in the world, the Our Father, Jesus gives us this very important command: “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” In other words, forgiveness from God is a two way street. If we want to be a recipient of God’s forgiveness, it is necessary that we forgive those who have hurt us.

Finally, the most eloquent witness of God’s forgiveness for all of humanity, and for each of us individually, is Jesus hanging on the cross after having been scourged, crowned with thorns and spat upon, derided and mocked incessantly, and finally abandoned by all those He loved but three faithful ones. What is His response as He hangs on the cross ready to breathe forth His spirit? These words: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing.” (Lk. 23:34)

To help us imitate Christ and obey His command to forgive, let us expand on five concrete suggestions to help us on the pathway to forgiveness and mercy!

1. Beg for the Grace

To forgive our enemies, to pray for them and to love them goes far beyond our fallen human nature. We desperately need God’s overflowing and abundant graces. Saint Augustine says that we are all beggars before God. Therefore, we should beg fervently for the grace to forgive when we are put to the test. God will not deny us this sincere petition and important grace!

2. Forgive Immediately

When we are offended, most often the devil begins working on us right away fostering in our mind thoughts of revenge. Such ugly and vindictive thoughts can easily surface: “Get even!” “Teach him a lesson.” “Give him a taste of his own medicine.” “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” Finally, “Don’t let him get away with this.” At best, this might express our sentiments, as a Protestant preacher once said succinctly: “We will forgive but only after we see him squirm like a worm in hot ashes, at least for a while.” All of these thoughts and feelings are diametrically opposed to the teaching of our Merciful Savior, and we must resist and reject them as soon as we become aware of them. Instead, if we respond to God’s grace of merciful forgiveness, and forgive immediately, there is a very good chance the victory will be ours. In sum, be quick to reject vindictive thoughts and even more rapid to forgive!

3. Humility

Another efficacious spiritual weapon that we have in our armory is that of humility. How? In this way! If forgiveness proves laborious and near impossible, then call to mind your worst and most embarrassing sins and the fact that God forgave you as soon as you begged Him for mercy and forgiveness. Most likely the offense leveled against you is minimal compared to your most grave and embarrassing sins. This can be a very powerful tool to open up your heart in mercy and forgiveness!

4. Mercy is a Two-Way Street

Next, remember that receiving God’s mercy is not a dead-end street, but rather a two-way street! Meaning? Jesus said: “Be merciful as your Heavenly Father is merciful.” (Lk. 6:36) Therefore, if we want to experience God’s infinite mercy in our lives, we must extend our forgiveness to those who have offended us. Let us recall once again the prayer Jesus taught us, the Our Father: “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” We will be forgiven only as much as we forgive others! Saint Faustina Kowalska in the Diary: Divine Mercy in My Soul asserts unequivocally that the greatest attribute or virtue in God is His Infinite Mercy. Followers of Jesus, the merciful Savior, must practice this sublime but very demanding virtue, if they desire to receive His mercy! Mercy is God’s love forgiving the sinner. Our decision to forgive our enemies is a clear sign of the victory of God’s grace and mercy in our lives.

5. Jesus Bleeding and Dying on the Cross for Me

Possibly the most convincing motivational force to compel us to forgive those who offend us is the serene but serious contemplation of Jesus hanging on the cross, shedding every drop of His most Precious Blood to save all of humanity, but in particular your immortal soul! After being hurt and maybe unwilling to forgive, lift up your eyes to contemplate Jesus as He hangs from the cross. Remember what He has already gone through: sweating Blood in the Garden, scourged at the Pillar, crowned with thorns, denied by Peter, betrayed by Judas, condemned and nailed to the cross though He was totally innocent, and shedding every last drop of His Precious Blood.

What were the first words that issued forth from Jesus’ most Sacred Heart on the cross? Look, listen, contemplate and pray! “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing!” Meditating upon these words, coupled with the contemplation of His bitter Passion hanging from the cross and the shedding of His most Precious Blood, should be the most efficacious tool/hammer to crush your hardened heart that is apparently unwilling to forgive!

Finally, beg Our Lady of Sorrows, Our Lady of Mercy, for the grace to forgive. Nobody ever suffered more than Mary, aside from Jesus Himself! Still, as she witnessed her only Son suffer and die on the cross, brutally mistreated, she forgave from the depths of her Immaculate Heart. May Our Lady attain for us the grace to forgive, to be merciful, and so merit the title of a son or daughter of God the Father, brother or sister to Jesus Christ, and friend of the Holy Spirit in time and for all eternity! Amen.