Friday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

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

FRIDAY, June 25th   Mt. 8: 1-4   “And then a leper approached, did him homage, and said, ‘Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.’ He stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, ‘I will do it. Be made clean.’ His leprosy was cleansed immediately.”

• Leprosy of the body untreated is a great tragedy and human suffering that can lead to death! However, there is something far worse. Leprosy of the soul, which is sin, untreated can lead to eternal death – forever and ever and ever!
• “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. (2 Cor 1:3-5)
• From the comfort and new life that we receive in every Sacramental Confession, we are to bring others to Confession to share in this comfort and new life! That is what Jesus commands of us!

GOD’S MERCY SETS OUR HEARTS FREE! BECOME AN APOSTLE OF CONFESSION! by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

 “I absolve you of your sins; go in peace!” These are among the most consoling words that the human ear can hear and that the heart can experience. Yes, these are the words expressed by the priest, who represents Jesus the Physician and Healer, at the conclusion of the Sacrament of Mercy, that we commonly title the Sacrament of Confession.

To know in the depths of your heart that you have been forgiven of all of your sins and that your guilt evaporates into thin air can be one of the most ennobling and uplifting experiences that a human person can relish!

Therefore, let us take advantage of the extraordinary treasure-house of graces that God has in store for us, as well as the whole world. God’s arms are open to love, forgive and embrace, as we read in the Parable of the Prodigal Son or maybe we could say The Parable of the Merciful Father; however, we must freely accept and receive this cordial invitation. Jesus says, “Come to me all of you who are weary and find life burdensome and I will give you rest.” (Mt. 11:28-30)

This short essay has as its essential thrust for you to become an Apostle of God’s Mercy, to be an Apostle of the Sacrament of Confession. This means in concrete, what are some of the tools or means that I can utilize to bring back some Prodigal sons and daughters, the confused, depressed and disoriented back to the loving arms of the Father through a good Sacramental Confession.

Maybe you’re one of the prodigal sons and daughters! Maybe because of COVID and difficulty finding a confessor, you got out of the habit of going to Confession! Ven. Bruno Lanteri, Founder of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary, says BEGIN AGAIN!

We will offer ten simple, concrete, and valuable suggestions to help these many wandering souls to experience the Infinite Mercy our loving Savior has for each and every one of us.

1. OUR PERSONAL EXAMPLE.

The saying is so true: “You cannot give what you don’t have.” For you to preach something to others, you first have to put it into practice yourself. That means that if you want to bring some wandering soul back to the Sacrament of God’s Mercy, then you should be in the habit of making good, frequent and well-prepared confessions yourself. Let your light shine on others! If you got out of the habit, BEGIN AGAIN!

2. THE PARABLE OF THE PRODIGAL SON.

In your own words, paraphrase and explain one of the greatest stories of the Greatest Teacher, Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In your explanation to this possibly fearful, confused, and doubting person, focus on the love, compassion, mercy, goodness, kindness, and patience of the Prodigal Son’s Father, who really represents and symbolizes God the Father. Then invite this wandering soul to read and meditate on the passage of the Parable of the Prodigal Son in Scripture. This can be found in the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 15:11-32.

3A. EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE.

Be prepared to be a “good shepherd” to this wandering sheep. Possibly this wandering soul has not been to Confession for a long time, maybe years, and does not have a well-formed conscience. Most likely their conscience is malformed, suppressed, lax, or simply in a state of dormition. Therefore, a well-written Examination of Conscience booklet on the Ten Commandments can be of priceless value. Take the initiative on your part to purchase one and give it to them as a free gift. A good and inexpensive one is “An Examination of Conscience” booklet by Fr. Robert Altier, available on-line at Leaflet Missal Company.

3B. WRITTEN FORM.  

Furthermore, it is of great importance to encourage the wandering sheep to prepare to make a good confession, possibly after many years, by writing out their sins; for mortal sins, specify the kind of sin and the number of times the sin was committed. If they cannot remember the exact number of times, they can say a quick prayer to the Holy Spirit for help, then give their best estimated number.

4. THE FIVE STEPS OF CONFESSION.

It is good to review the 5 Steps of a Good Confession. 1) Examine your conscience. 2) Have sorrow for your sins. 3) Confess your sins to the priest. For mortal sins only, include the kind of sin and number of times the sin was committed. 4) Resolve to amend your life. 5) After your confession, carry out the penance the priest gives you as soon as possible.

5. HIGHLIGHT THE EXTRAORDINARY GRACES RECEIVED.

In encouraging the Prodigal Son/Daughter, focus primarily on the positive. Pope Francis insists that the Confessional should not be a torture chamber. By the positive we mean, highlight the extraordinary graces and blessings that flow from a good Sacramental Confession. Among the many graces are the following.

1. A good confession restores sanctifying grace to our soul which means our Friendship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is restored.
2. Once again we have Jesus as our Best Friend!
3. We experience a peace the world cannot give—peace of heart, mind, body, and soul.
4. Sin saddens us. Forgiveness of our sins produces great joy in our heart and soul.
5. We experience inner harmony. Sin causes division within us and with others! Confession and reconciliation with God produces abundant fruits of harmony.
6. A pure conscience. Living with a guilty or dirty conscience can indeed be hell on earth. A good confession gives us a pure, clean conscience. What a great relief! For that reason Shakespeare asserts: “Conscience does make cowards of all of us.”
7. When we are living in sin, we live in perpetual insecurity and a paralyzing fear. With a good Confession, God once again becomes our rock, our fortress, and our firm foundation. “The Lord is my Shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.” (Ps. 23)
8. Reception of Holy Communion. One of the greatest graces that flows from a good confession is a return to the Sacramental life in which, once again, we can receive the greatest of all Gifts: Jesus, the Bread of Life in Holy Communion. (Jn. 6:22-71—The Bread of Life discourse)

6. CONFESSION: WHERE, WHEN, HOW? 

These nuts and bolts about where, when and how to make a confession can be key in bringing a wandering sheep back to the fold. Tell them where the confessions are held, when they are scheduled, and of great importance how the confession is to be done—the actual protocol or technique that is used in the confessional.

Outline the protocol: Enter the confessional and close the door behind you. Be the first one to speak, so the priest knows what language to use.

1. Make the sign of the cross. “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned, my last confession was…” (Say how long ago: for example 5 months or 5 years, etc.)
2. “These are my sins!” Say your sins or read aloud the list of your sins so you don’t forget anything. Mortal sins have to be confessed by kind and number.
3. Say the Act of Contrition.

Do not be surprised if this wandering, but returning sheep of the flock does not know the Act of Contrition. Offer to give them a copy of an Act of Contrition before they go to Confession. Maybe even on a laminated card that they can keep and reuse.

All of these practical and personal helps can be of extraordinary value and utility in helping this lost sheep to experience the Infinite Mercy of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

7. ACCOMPANY THEM TO THE CHURCH FOR CONFESSION.  

One more step would be to simply bring this prodigal son/daughter to the Church, and then to the Confessional where the priest is actually hearing confessions. Be with your friend! 

Briefly outline the protocol again: Enter and close the door, Sign of the Cross; then the words: “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned, my last confession was_____(weeks, months,years) ago; these are my sins!” Bring an extra Act of Contrition with you, in case they forgot theirs.

While they are in the confessional, pray for them, as well as for the priest-confessor!!!

8. A GENERAL CONFESSION AND IGNATIAN SPIRITUALITY. 

Eventually, it is highly recommended that a General Confession of all the sins of one’s life be made. After his conversion in the Sanctuary of Montserrat, Saint Ignatius of Loyola made a General Confession of all the sins of his life. From that moment on, God inundated Ignatius with a deluge of graces. Once we have totally purified the interior vessel of our soul, then God can take us and use us to carry out extraordinary apostolic works for the salvation of immortal souls for all eternity! Jesus said: “Blessed are the pure of heart, they will see God.” (Mt. 5:8)

9. READ THE LIVES OF SAINTLY CONFESSORS.

A very salutary practice is that of reading the lives of the saints; they serve as powerful intercessors for us before the throne of God, as well as brilliant stars in the firmament of heaven for us to emulate. Highly to be recommended are the following: Saint John Marie Vianney (known as the Cure of Ars); Saint John Bosco, the patron of the young who was a zealous confessor; Saint Padre Pio, who spent many hours in the confessional reconciling souls to God; and Saint Alphonsus Liguori, patron of confessors and moral theologians and the founder of the Redemptorists. When we read the lives of these saintly and zealous confessors, they ignite in our hearts, minds and souls a desire to approach the Sacrament of Confession with greater trust and confidence, and with greater frequency!

10. PRAY AND PLACE ON THE ALTAR.

In your initiative to be an ardent and zealous Apostle of Confession, never underestimate the power of prayer, which indeed can move the highest mountains if we have the faith of the mustard seed. By far the greatest prayer under the heavens, that unites both heaven and earth and even Purgatory, is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass!

Place the individuals that you plan to bring back to the Sacrament of Confession on the altar in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass; then receive and offer your Holy Communion that the Precious Blood of Jesus will touch their heart and move this lost sheep with the desire to return to God’s merciful and loving embrace through the Sacrament of Confession. Once this wandering sheep has returned to the fold by making a sacramental confession, then place them on the altar again, praying that they will persevere in  pursuing the frequent practice of receiving God’s Mercy through Confession.

May Our Lady, whom we invoke with the title: “Hail Holy Queen, Mother of mercy”, attain for us the grace to be a true and ardent apostle of God’s Mercy by pursuing and bringing back the lost sheep to the loving embrace of Jesus the Good Shepherd, so that they may hear those beautiful, inspiring and consoling words:

“And I absolve you of your sins: in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist 

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

THURSDAY, June 24th   Lk. 1: 57-66, 80   SOLEMNITY OF THE NATIVITY OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST    “He will be called John.”

I. JOHN THE BAPTIST ABOUT JESUS… Mt. 3:11-12

 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

“His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” (cf Mt. 25:31-46)

II. JESUS ABOUT JOHN THE BAPTIST… Mt. 11:7-15

Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John:

“What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written:

‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
    who will prepare your way before you.’

And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.”

III. JESUS ABOUT US… Mt. 11:11

“Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”

SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST POINTS THE WAY TO CHRIST! A GLORIOUS EXAMPLE WORTHY OF IMITATION!!! By Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

“I am the voice crying out in the desert: ‘Prepare the way for the Lord.’” Again: “I am not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Great Prophet.” Then, “He must increase, and I must decrease.”  And, “I am not even worthy to unfasten his sandal-straps.” All of these expressions resound from the voice and heart of the same person: SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST! Speaking of this person, Jesus exalts him to a sublime degree: “Of all men born of women, none is greater than John the Baptist.”

The lessons that the great Saint John the Baptist can teach us are many. These lessons in virtue can easily motivate all of us, in this precise moment, to abandon a life of sin or mediocrity and pursue a life of heroic virtue, to pursue a life of great holiness. Chapter V of the Dogmatic Constitution of Vatican II Lumen Gentium commands us to holiness of life. This chapter is the Universal Call to Holiness. Jesus stated it succinctly and unequivocally: “Be holy as your heavenly Father is holy.” (Mt. 5:48)

Therefore, let us learn from the person of the great Saint John the Baptist to abandon a life of tepidity, lukewarmness and apathy and allow the fire of the Holy Spirit, and the example and prayers of Saint John the Baptist, to ignite an ardent flame within us.

1. MARY AND SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST. 

There is an intimate connection and bond of holiness between Mary and Saint John the Baptist. Mary visited John when he was still in the womb of his mother, Saint Elizabeth. Mary’s word, and the silent presence of Jesus in her womb, caused John the Baptist to leap for joy in the womb of his mother and be filled with the Holy Spirit, resulting in his sanctification. Our Lady’s presence and word can also sanctify each and every one of us.

2. THE PRO-LIFE SAINT. 

In a world characterized by loss of respect for life from the moment of conception until natural death, it is worthy of note that the parents of John welcomed him even in their old age. Beyond the normal age of child-bearing, Elizabeth said YES to life and brought forth Saint John the Baptist. Every child in the womb is precious and a true gift from God, endowed with a special mission.

3. DESERT-EXPERIENCE. 

Saint John the Baptist did not launch himself into a flurry of activity right away, nor did Jesus! Rather, like Jesus, John spent long years in preparation. Jesus spent His formative years in the family of Nazareth. According to tradition, Saint John the Baptist spent long years in the desert preparing himself for his great mission. He was called to prepare the way of the Lord, but he first had to prepare himself. How important the lesson of the Baptist for us? To be successful Apostles, we must prepare ourselves by means of prayer, penance, and self-discipline. The more exact and demanding the preparation, the more abundant the apostolic fruits!

4. SILENCE. 

In the desert, far distant from noise and clatter, and the cacophony of strident protests, the Baptist settled in silence, propitious for listening attentively to the Word of God. What a powerful lesson. Pope Benedict XVI commented to seminarians in New York on how difficult it is today to hear the voice of the Lord because of the reality of being bombarded by so many alien noises. May Saint John the Baptist help us to cherish silence! “Speak, O Lord, for your servant is listening.” (1 Sam 3:10)

5. PENANCE. 

To soar to the heights in the spiritual life like an eagle, we need two wings: the wings of prayer and penance. In a world imbued with hedonism, sensuality, gluttony, drinking bouts, and the philosophy of pleasure, the lifestyle of the Baptist is a countersign and very counter-cultural! No elegant, gourmet dining for the Baptist! Quite the contrary, his nourishment was locusts and wild honey, being fed from God’s gratuitous gifts of nature.

6. A SIMPLE, FRUGAL LIFE-STYLE. 

How much time, energy, and money are wasted on luxurious buying and having, related to wardrobe. Saint John the Baptist challenges us to look deeply into our own buying and having with respect to our wardrobe and dress! How did the Baptist dress? Quite simply: he donned a camel’s fur garment and wore a leather belt around his waist. He had no need for a closet to store extra clothing! Let’s examine our wardrobe and buying sprees from the perspective of the Baptist.

7. HIS PREACHING STYLE AND METHOD. 

The preaching style of the Baptist and his message were simple, direct and to the point. He did not mince words, nor waste words. The very essence of his preaching could be summarized in one simple word: CONVERSION!!! Very similar to the first preaching of Jesus: “Be converted; the Kingdom of God is at hand.” (Mk. 1:15)

8. HIS DISCIPLES. 

A very interesting note is that of his close disciples; who were they? Actually, some of the Apostles that Jesus chose were already being formed and taught by Saint John the Baptist. Among these were Saint John the Evangelist, as well as Saint Andrew. John the Baptist pointed to Jesus and said, “The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” Hearing this, Saint Andrew and Saint John the Evangelist left the Baptist to follow Jesus. (Jn. 1: 20, 36-38) What profound humility in the Baptist, allowing his disciples and friends to leave him so that they could follow in the company of Jesus! The Baptist considered himself a mere sign—always paving the way and pointing to Jesus! What an example for us!

9. HIS MISSION. 

Saint John the Baptist had no identity-crisis. He knew with utmost clarity who he was, where he was called to be, and exactly what his mission entailed. Baptisms! The latter part of his life, he was called to the Jordan River where he would summon the people to a life of conversion and then he would baptize them. A culminating moment in his life is when Jesus enters the scene at the Jordan River and asks to be baptized by John the Baptist. Despite his feelings of unworthiness, the Baptist humbly submits to the request of Jesus and baptizes the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. In this moment the profound mystery of the Blessed Trinity becomes manifest. The voice of God the Father is heard, Jesus enters into the waters thereby sanctifying all future waters used to baptize, and the Holy Spirit becomes manifest in the presence of the Dove.

10. HIS GLORIOUS GRAND FINALE! 

The Grand Finale of the life of SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST was his glorious death. He was martyred. The primary reason for the glorious death of Saint John the Baptist was his courage in denouncing publicly the adulterous, incestuous and scandalous relations of King Herod. The cowardly and wicked king had actually taken the wife of his brother, Philip, and made her his own. The Kingdom was muted, but not John the Baptist. He raised a clarion voice of denunciation: “It is not right for you to live with her!” (Mt. 14:4) For this, John was incarcerated. Then on the occasion of the birthday of the wicked King and a lascivious dance, the King sent executioners to the prison to decapitate Saint John the Baptist. This great saint died to defend the indissoluble character of Holy Matrimony and the evil of divorce and adultery. He lost his physical life but gained Heaven for all eternity!

His miraculous conception, his prayerful and penitential preparation in the desert, and a life spent calling for repentance and conversion of life, ultimately leading to the glorious death of Saint John the Baptist, can most splendidly serve as a model for all of us who yearn for a life of authentic holiness. May we ardently desire to live out his virtues: prayer, penance, silence, humility, detachment, mission, love for Jesus, love for the truth, and undaunted courage to face evil and deceit with a willingness to die for the truth, should the Lord give us the grace! Great and Glorious Saint John the Baptist, pray for us!

Wednesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

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

WEDNESDAY, June 23rd   Mt. 7: 15-20   “By their fruits, you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit.”

• “A moment of patience in a moment of anger saves a thousand moments of regret.” (author unknown)
• “Resist your impatience faithfully, practicing, not only with reason, but even against reason, holy courtesy and sweetness to all, but especially to those who weary you most.” – St. Francis de Sales
• “Let nothing perturb you, nothing frighten you. All things pass. God does not change. Patience achieves everything.”  -St. Teresa of Avila

PATIENCE: THE VIRTUE WE ALL NEED!!!

There is not one person in the world who can say that he does not need the virtue of patience.  Jesus said: “By your patient endurance, you will save your soul.” (Lk. 21:19-21) Given that this virtue is universally needed but not easy to attain, this will be our topic for conversation in this brief article!

PATIENCE WITH WHOM?  You might stop and look at your life and ask the question: “With whom, where, and when do I need the virtue of patience?” Not to be overly simplistic, but I believe we can narrow this question down to three distinct categories. First, we have to be patient with others—those we meet, those we live with, those we work with, those we associate with, those with whom we come in contact, either frequently or less frequently. Second, there is another very important category or person with whom we must exercise constant and infinite patience—and that is with ourselves, yes, with ourselves! Finally, and this last Person with whom we must practice patience may not be as obvious, this Person is God!!!

This being said, we must be keenly aware of the hard and cruel fact that people will rub us wrong, get on our nerves, provoke us, exasperate us, and sometimes simply drive us bananas—to put it bluntly! As you read this article, I am sure that you have some person in mind, more likely, some persons in mind! Certain idiosyncrasies of others, their tone of voice, the pace they move at, their facial expression, the words they use or fail to use, drive you up the wall, or almost drive you crazy! We all know these people and have had contact with them and probably do even right now! What then are we going to do to remedy this predicament?

Easier said than done—the solution to this problem of patience with the person or persons who seem to be simply intolerable! Let us offer some suggestions that can be invaluable!

FIRST, PRAYER!  Jesus says that we have to pray and not simply for those people whom we see as charming, attractive, likeable, holy and unblemished—as if these people really do exist anyway!!! No! We must pray for all people because they were created by a loving God, and God wants all of humanity to form a family in which the virtue of love, compassion, mercy and respect reign supreme! Jesus says very clearly that we even have to pray for our enemies, as He taught us on the cross: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing.” (Lk. 23:34)

SECOND, HUMILITY!  Be humble in the midst of your dislike of this person that drives you up the wall due to the many defects that you observe in them. Remember and call to mind your own many defects which might be more serious in the eyes of God than the defects in the person that you really cannot stand! God loves the humble, but rejects the arrogant and proud. When tempted to look down on this person call to mind one of your most egregious failures or sins and God’s mercy towards you. This will help you to be more compassionate, kind and PATIENT toward this intolerable person!

THIRD, AGERE CONTRA! Put into practice what Saint Ignatius of Loyola teaches in the course of the Spiritual Exercises and it is the concept of AGERE CONTRA!!! This is a short Latin phrase which literally means to go against! Therefore, when you are tempted to be impatient, unkind, cold, or downright mean to this person who presses your buttons, do the opposite. Smile, say a kind word, make a nice gesture, or even give a gift—all this is difficult but very pleasing to God. This is not hypocrisy, but heroic virtue! This conquering of self, though difficult, is possible, and doing this is a true sign of the victory of God’s grace in your life!

FOURTH, PATIENCE WITH SELF! What about patience with oneself? Those who are so-called perfectionists will always end up defrauding themselves. Why? For the simple reason that we live in a very imperfect world, better said, a very sinful world! Only God is perfect and all of humanity is composed of sinners, hopefully on the path to conversion! The Bible teaches us that the just man falls seven times a day. Jesus says that we must forgive those who offend us not seven times, but 70 times seven times, which means always! Often as not, it is ourselves that we have to forgive 70 times seven times!

In other words, even though we have to fight constantly to overcome our sinful tendencies, as well as sin itself in our lives, we must strive to never give in to impatience at our many faults and failings. Indeed, the saints teach us that after sin itself, discouragement is mortal enemy number one! For this reason, apply the Ignatian concept Agere Contra, meaning to act intensely against our impatience with ourselves and our temptation to throw in the towel and give up.

FIFTH, NUNC COEPI! The Founder of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary, Venerable Bruno Lanteri, expressed it in two short words, but these two words say it all! NUNC COEPI!—NOW I BEGIN! After we fall or fail in one way or another, we must get up, dust ourselves off, and launch ourselves into the loving arms of God the Father (the image of Saint Therese of Lisieux); then simply start anew! We should trust more in God’s grace then in our human weakness, remembering the words of the great Apostle Saint Paul: “When I am weak, it is then that I am strong!” (2 Cor. 12:10) Ven. Bruno Lanteri said, “Even if I fall a thousand times a day, a thousand times I will get up and say, ‘Now I begin.’”

The recently canonized saint (2015), the Missionary of California, Saint Junipero Serra coined this immortal phrase: “Siempre Adelante, siempre Adelante y nunca atras!” Translation: “Always forward, always forward and never turn back!” Therefore, when we fall (and no doubt we will fall) we must not give in to discouragement, but trust less in ourselves and more in God’s power in our lives. Meaning, less self-reliance and more God-reliance! With the Psalmist let us exclaim:  “Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth!” (Ps. 124:8)

SIXTH, PATIENCE WITH GOD!  The last and most important Person for us to be patient with is God Himself! This may surprise many who might be thinking: “I have never been impatient with God!” O, really! Have you ever prayed to God and not been answered according to your criteria? Have you ever asked God to help you in a sickness and suffering and it seemed as if God was not listening, or totally indifferent to your situation? Has it ever happened that you made a novena to God, to Mary, or to one of God’s angels and saints and the request made was not answered; rather, your situation seemed to get worse? Has it ever happened that you prayed for the conversion of someone and absolutely nothing seemed to happen? Has it ever happened in your life that you begged God with faith for the mountain to be moved and when you got up the following morning the mountain had not moved or budged a millimeter? 

Faced with these so called unanswered prayers or petitions, these unresolved problems or aggravating circumstances, where it seems as if God does not care, is indifferent, or even uninterested in your sorrowful plight, there is a good chance that you will become impatient with God, to the point of even becoming angry with God. This is more common than we are aware of!!!

What then is the response to this predicament? Very simply the following! Our God is a God of Infinite Love! Our God is a God of Infinite Wisdom! However, the mind of God is not the mind of man. His ways far transcend and supersede ours in knowledge, wisdom, love and planning. We can barely see beyond our own nose and we live only in a specific moment of time. Not so with God! He lives in the Eternal Now! For an Infinite and Eternal God, the past, present and future are all one!

This being said, for the sake of our conversion, sanctification, perseverance in grace and our eternal salvation, God’s plans and decisions will not always meet with our criteria. However, we must believe in God’s loving and providential design. All God does for you individually, personally, socially, and spiritually will always—in the broad and panoramic perspective and in the light of eternity—be for your good. Therefore, strive never to be impatient with God but trust, trust totally and humbly in His Infinite Love for you and providential care. Beg Our Lady, who stood beneath the cross watching Jesus suffer and die, to help you have great trust and patience in God’s plan for your life!

Tuesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

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

TUESDAY, June 22nd   Mt. 7: 6, 12-14   “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.”

From St. Faustina’s Diary…

“God never violates our free will. It is up to us whether we want to receive God’s grace or not. It is up to us whether we will co-operate with it or waste it.” (Diary, 1107)

“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.” (Diary, 153)

BECOME A SOLID BRIDGE TO HEAVEN. By Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

Help souls to attain a holy and happy death!

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: “What would it profit a man if he were to gain the whole world and at the same time lose his soul. What can a man give in exchange for his immortal 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 that 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, 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. All too few give much care or concern for their eternal destiny. The biggest tragedy in the world is to throw away one’s eternal salvation. But how true the words of Jesus: “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?”

This being the present state of affairs, let us prayerfully meditate upon the eternal Truths, of 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, 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 at 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 by 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 a thief on the cross, and Archbishop Fulton Sheen quipped: “And he died a thief because he stole heaven.”

2. MEDITATE ON THE SHORTNESS OF LIFE. To the many who have drifted into no man’s land—The Waste Land of T.S. Eliot, that is to say into disbelief, doubt and skepticism, remind them of how short and uncertain life really 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 the 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 basis. Not one of us can deny being taken aback or even shocked by some person who was taken in the prime of their life. Not to be apocalyptic, but that could be you or me in any week, day, hour, or minute. Jesus warns us of the uncertain and precarious nature of human life 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 by telling him that he would die that very night. Then where will his possessions go?

4. BRING THE WANDERING SHEEP, THE PRODIGAL SONS TO CONFESSION. Beyond a shadow of doubt, one of the greatest acts of charity that you can accomplish is to convince a wandering sheep, a 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 the Confessional. Tell them what to do when they confesses. Then you go to confession first and come out with a radiant smile. 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 and we can help others to receive is the Last Sacraments, before passing 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 their last Communion, it is called Viaticum— meaning food for the Wayfarers on their way to the Lord. This is the ideal order if the sick person has 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. Wait, there is more!

6. APOSTOLIC PARDON. Very few are aware of the many treasures the Church offers to those who are willing to receive them. We can share the good news! The Apostolic Pardon, taken from the treasuries of the Church which spring forth from the Passion, death and Resurrection of Jesus (The Paschal Mystery), is administered by the priest, usually after the Last Sacraments described 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, the dying person is granted full pardon of their sins and full remission of the punishment due for their sins, in other words a Plenary Indulgence. 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. 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 all 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. This being said the following are the five conditions required to receive a Plenary Indulgence:

1) SACRAMENTAL CONFESSION. First, a Sacramental Confession with a priest must be accomplished. Well prepared and expressed, and with a true and firm purpose of Amendment, within two weeks before or after the day of the indulgence.

2) SACRAMENTAL COMMUNION. Participation in Holy Mass with fervent reception of Holy Communion —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 alone in front of the Blessed Sacrament; 2) Making the Way of the Cross; 3) Meditate upon the Bible, the Word of God, for at least 30 minutes

4) PRAY FOR THE INTENTIONS OF THE PONTIFF. Next, pray for the intentions of the Holy Father, the Pope: 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 make a firm purpose to give up all sin—both mortal and venial—as well as the near occasion of sin. If we have the firm purpose of amendment in our mind and heart, even if we fall, we can still earn the Indulgence.

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

Special Note: We can obtain a Plenary Indulgence for ourselves every day if we complete the requirements. Or we can choose to free a soul from Purgatory six days a week by meeting these conditions, and then fulfill these requirement for ourselves in good faith one day a week!

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 one is aware of having fallen into mortal sin. This practice most especially should be practiced before retiring every night. Sacramental Confession is not always possible due to the shortage and lack of priests. However, one can make a Perfect Act of Contrition at any time and any place, if moved by the grace of God. A Perfect Act of Contrition is not sorrow for mortal sins because of Fear of the Lord and fear of eternal punishment—this is Attrition or Imperfect Contrition. Perfect Contrition is sorrow from the depths of our heart, with a firm purpose to avoid any person, place, thing, event or situation that might lead us into mortal sin, because God loves us so much and we want to return His love with all the love in our heart. When a person makes a Perfect Act of Contrition, they are restored to the state of grace even before Sacramental Confession. However, at the earliest opportunity they must have recourse to a Sacramental Confession to receive absolution from the priest. Finally, we can also choose to meet the requirements of a Perfect Act of Contrition, saying it out loud with the priest who is on the altar.

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 to save such a soul is to pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy that Jesus taught to Saint Faustina. To be 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 were not physically present to the dying, as long as we pray a Chaplet, the dying person will still receive the extraordinary grace of salvation through the Wounds of the 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 disposition 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 say:  “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 for God’s Infinite Mercy through her most powerful intercession.

In conclusion, Saint Alphonsus Liguori teaches us “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 try to understand and even memorize the content of this article. Then share this with your loved ones, as well as many others who have wandered away from the faith. But most important: strive to live out this message. Pray for death bed sinners and encourage others to do so! If done, heaven will be yours for all eternity. May Our Lady pray for us now and at the hour of our death!

Memorial of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, Religious

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

MONDAY, June 21st   Mt. 7: 1-5   “Stop judging, that you may not be judged.”

• Who among us cannot benefit from this excellent article – better said, informal examination of conscience! Who of us is not guilty?
• “The tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.” (Jas. 3: 5-8)
• “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.” (Jas. 9-10)
• “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.” (Jas. 3: 17-18)

TAMING THE TONGUE: 10 FATAL ABUSES OF SPEECH by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

Saint James warns us that we should be “quick to listen and slow to speak and slow to become angry”. (Jas. 1:19) Thomas a Kempis in his classic The Imitation of Christ asserts that few ever regretted having refrained from speaking. On the other hand, many have regretted opening their mouths when they should have kept them shut! Still more, Jesus warns us that every word that comes forth from our mouth will be judged for “From the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”(Lk. 6:45)

Finally, Saint Bonaventure asserts that we should open our mouths on three occasions: to praise God, to accuse ourselves, and to edify others. Hopefully this will be our criteria for speaking! The primary purpose for this gift of speech that God has given to the human person is to communicate the truth with love.

We would then like to briefly go over the ten fatal flaws that result from improper speech. In each instance, our goal is to find the preventive medicine rather than curative. The reason being is that once a word has been issued forth from the mouth, it cannot be retrieved. Much like when a rock is launched in the direction of a window pane, it cannot be returned to the hand but it instead goes out and shatters the glass in nearly an instant. So when it comes to taming the tongue, it is far better to prevent the stones of our words then to try to repair the damage.

1. Lying 

Lies should be avoided at all costs. A lie perverts the proper end and purpose of human speech, by falsifying the truth that ought to be spoken. If all were to lie then human solidarity and unity would be impossible because nobody could trust anybody’s word and we would then always be living with the suspicion that the other who speaks is deceiving.  Jesus said that the devil is the father of lies. Therefore, in a very real sense liars are sons and daughter of the devil! A strong statement, but true.

2. Telling White Lies 

Many will justify the lie by saying that it is only a white lie, an inoffensive lie, that nobody will be hurt, or even that the white lie was said to avoid doing harm to the other person. There was a moment when Charlie Brown told Lucy that what he told was only a white lie. Lucy responded: “Charlie, I did not know that lies come in colors.” In sum, your speech should always communicate the truth in the big as well as in the small things. Jesus reminds us that those who are faithful in the small will be faithful in the large.

3. Shouting and Yelling

Frustrated people who have little self-control often have recourse to yelling or shouting, with the hope of moving the listeners to action; this might also be the case of parents with their children. The end is to get those subject to the shouting to submit in obedience, which rarely results as planned. On the contrary, people will pay even less attention to the overly-emotional and uncontrolled shouting. Rather than losing control of our emotions, it is far better to give fraternal correction but with calmness and peace. In this way you show love, even while giving parental or fraternal correction, while also maintaining control over your tongue.

4. Slander or Calumny

At all costs, we should strive to maintain and defend not only our own good reputation but also the reputation of others. All have a right to the defense of their good name. But how quickly somebody’s good name can be undone by the slander of another! Therefore, calumny or slander can be defined as “character assassination”—that is to say, killing the good name of another.

Actually, in this light, slander not only violates the Eighth Commandment—“Thou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor”—but it can also be seen as a violation of the Fifth Commandment: “Thou shalt not kill.” Even the Book of Proverbs tells us the harm that is done by slander or calumny: “A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.” (Prov. 25:18)

5. Speaking Gossip

All too prevalent in our modern society are those who have become gossipers. Such a person finds a negative action and motivation in another person and then talks about that person behind their back.

Gossipers cause damage in many ways:

1.They hurt God, the source of truth who hears all things. Sharing a piece of gossip that is false harms the person spoken of – that is the sin of calumny. The fact that a piece of gossip is true still does not give us license to share it – that also harms the person spoken of and that is the sin of detraction.

2. They hurt themselves by sinning with their speech.

3. They hurt the persons listening to the gossip, who injure charity by listening to it.

4. Finally, and most obviously, they hurt the person against whom they are gossiping. Words once spoken cannot be taken back.

If you are a gossiper, or you listen to gossip, stop right now! The Holy Bible is clear about avoiding this: “Do not spread slanderous gossip among your people,” (Leviticus 19:16). Also, avoid sharing even truthful gossip per the Catechism of the Catholic Church (No. 2477). In either case, we have no right to harm a person’s reputation! Remember, Jesus says that every careless word that comes from your mouth will be judged. Be prepared for judgment day!

6. Sarcasm in Speech

Sarcasm is using irony and mockery to show contempt. Utilizing sarcasm wounds charity; it is like adding salt to an open wound. It smarts, hurts, and burns! The sarcastic person belittles, disparages and pokes fun at others, getting listeners to laugh by degrading others and their innate dignity. This is particularly ugly.

Before giving in to sarcasm, apply the Golden Rule. How would you like it if you were the butt of a sarcastic joke? Do to others what you want them to do to you. Speak about others the way you want others to speak about you. As one saint said: “We should only open our mouth to excuse others and accuse ourselves.”

7. Breaking Confidence

If what you have heard is meant to be kept in confidence, kept secret, not to be revealed to anyone, then keep your mouth shut and sealed.

Priests must maintain the seal of the confessional. Professionals are obliged to maintain confidences in many cases. The common proverb, silence is golden, is true and operative here. Stay awake! Be alert! In taming the tongue to prevent a fatal flaw, sometimes our only recourse is to remain silent. If we can succeed in this, ours is a most eloquent silence!

8. Blasphemy

The utmost serious flaw of the tongue is that of blasphemy. What then is blasphemy? In Father John Hardon’s Pocket Catholic Dictionary we read:

“BLASPHEMY: Speaking against God in a contemptuous, scornful, or abusive manner. Included under blasphemy are offenses committed by thought, word or action, serious contemptuous ridicule of the saints, sacred objects, or of persons consecrated to God is also blasphemous because God is indirectly attacked. Blasphemy is a grave violation of charity against God. Its gravity may be judged by capital punishment in the Old Testament, severe penalties in the Church, and in many cases also of the State.”

A concrete and recent example of this was the abuse and desecration in Oklahoma of a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary by pouring fake blood over the statue on Christmas Eve. Through this act, the Church was mocked and Our Lord’s Mother was attacked. May God have mercy on us!

9. Abusive and Vulgar Language

While not as serious as blasphemy, a great abuse of the tongue is the all-too prevalent proliferation of vulgar language. Often words are used to degrade the human person, as well as the intimate act that God has designed for the procreation of new human beings. This is wrong and should be brought to a screeching halt for those who are in the habit of using such ugly and indecent language.

We should never forget that we are temples of the Holy Spirit. As Catholics, our tongues partake of the Body and Blood of Jesus whenever we receive Holy Communion. As part of our preparation for Holy Communion, we should tame our tongue to be ready to receive such a great gift.

Finally, we should act according to our dignity as living Temples of the Living God. We also ought to act according to our dignity as future citizens of Heaven, our eternal home with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Our Blessed Mother, and the angels and Saints!

10. Bragging and Boasting

Another form of speech that we should eschew is that of bragging or boasting.

What is this form of speech? It is when we praise ourselves, congratulate ourselves that we are not like “those others”, lauding and adulating our great qualities and abilities. In this we attribute all of our successes, merits, and rewards to our own greatness, instead of giving God – the giver of all gifts – the credit. This is very displeasing to God and the epitome of pride! Beware, pride doth come before a fall!

God lifts up the lowly, but despises the proud of heart. Our Lady in her Magnificat expresses this truth with true eloquence: “My soul glorifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my savior, for He has looked with favor upon His handmaid, and henceforth all generations will call me blessed, for He who is mighty has done great things for me and holy is His name.” (Lk. 1: 46-49)

Our attitude of heart should be that of the Psalmist: Not to us, LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory because of your steadfast love and faithfulness.” (Ps. 115:1)