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

SATURDAY, May 22nd   Jn. 21:20-25   “There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world could contain the books that would be written.”

• Saturday is the day we honor Mary: the Mother of God, the Mother of the Church, and our own dear Mother. Today let us pray over Mary and the Person of the Holy Spirit in honor of Pentecost Sunday tomorrow!

MARY AND THE PERSON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

Counselor and Consoler, Paraclete, Interior Master of the soul, Finger of God, Divine Architect, Sweet Guest of the soul, Faithful Friend, Gift of Gifts—all of these titles mentioned describe in different ways some aspect of the Third Person of the Most Blessed Trinity—the Holy Spirit.

MARY AND THE HOLY TRINITY.  The Blessed Virgin Mary has a profound union with the Triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In what way you might ask? The response is this. Mary is the Daughter of God the Father; Mary is the Mother of God the Son; Mary is the Mystical Spouse of the Holy Spirit. Mary’s union with the Three Divine Persons is very personal, intimate, and profound.

MARY AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.  On one occasion, Cardinal Suenens was asked to celebrate a special outdoor Mass at Duquesne University for the Charismatics —a group known for their love and devotion to the Holy Spirit and His gifts, particularly His Charismatic Gifts. The outdoor stadium was packed to the gills. All were enthusiastic to participate in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. However, there was a serious problem. Hovering over those present, including Cardinal Suenens, a cloudy, darkened sky threatened rain which would not only dampen the celebration, but ruin it totally! In the event of a downpour, Mass in the open stadium would have to be cancelled. The Mass began and evolved into the Liturgy of the Word with a homily given by the Cardinal. One of the most salient points of his homily was related to Mary and the Holy Spirit. The Cardinal posed a rhetorical question: “Would you like to know the secret of deep union with the Holy Spirit?” All were listening attentively for the answer. The Cardinal proceeded: “The secret of deep union with the Holy Spirit is love and devotion to Mary!” As soon as he spoke these words, there was the flash of a white hot lightning bolt followed by a clap of thunder!!! Then, to the utter amazement of all present, the clouds disappeared and a brilliant sun shone down upon the stadium!

MARY AND THE PERSON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.  The message is as clear as the sun that beamed down on the stadium that day. If we truly desire a deep union with our Triune God, and particularly with the Third Person—the Holy Spirit, we must have true devotion to Mary, we must have a deep and loving relationship with Mary who indeed is the Daughter of God the Father, the Mother of God the Son, and the Mystical Spouse of the Holy Spirit.

THE THREE KEY MOMENTS OF MARY’S CONTACT WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.

Due to God’s loving Divine Providence, from the very moment Mary entered into the world in the womb of her mother Saint Anne, during the whole of her life while on earth, until her last moment before being assumed into Heaven, Mary was endowed, permeated, and imbued with the Person of the Holy Spirit. However, there were three primary moments of intimate union that Mary experienced with this Sweet Guest of the Soul—the Holy Spirit of God.

FIRST, THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION.  From the first moment of her existence on earth, the Holy Spirit took full and total possession of Mary. In what way? We call it the Immaculate Conception. At the very moment that Mary was conceived in the womb of Saint Anne, her earthly Mother, the Holy Spirit was powerfully at work in her little body and soul. Indeed, it was the glorious working of the Holy Spirit that preserved Mary from all stain of Original Sin, and therefore, all the effects of original sin! As the English poet Wordsworth so accurately penned: Mary is our tainted nature’s solitary boast. By honoring Mary’s Immaculate Conception, due to the Holy Spirit’s Presence in Mary from the moment of her conception, we receive signal graces to fight the good fight and run the good race in our battles against the pernicious presence and reality of sin in our lives. May Our Lady and her Mystical Spouse, the Holy Spirit, help us to triumph over all forms of sin in our mortal bodies in preparation for our eternal life!

SECOND, THE VIRGINAL CONCEPTION. (Lk. 1:26-38) In the history of the world and in the economy of salvation, the moment in which the Virginal Conception took place transformed humanity and its destiny. The Virginal Conception is a result of the message of the Archangel Gabriel to the Blessed Virgin Mary in which God invited Mary to become the Mother of God. Giving her full and total consent, Mary said: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” (Lk.1:38)At that moment, Mary was overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and conceived Jesus in her most pure womb. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” (Jn. 1:13) Therefore, both Mary’s Virginal Conception and the Incarnation of the Son of God were accomplished by the power and working of the Holy Spirit. Our Lady and her deep union with the Holy Spirit can attain for all of us great purity of mind, memory, understanding, and affections of body and soul. Remember, O Gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession was left unaided!” (From the Memorare)

THIRD, PENTECOST. (Acts 2)  The word Pentecost means fifty—fifty days after the Resurrection of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. That first Pentecost effected a powerful transformation in the Apostles. However, transformation was preceded by a powerful Novena—nine days and nine nights in which the Apostles, united with Mary, the Mother of God, were praying and fasting in silence. It was only after the Novena that the Holy Spirit came down upon Mary and the Apostles with a powerful wind, a shaking of the room where they were praying, and tongues of fire that settled over their heads. As a result, these twelve Apostles who were fearful, confused, and lacking in faith just a few days before, were transformed into valiant soldiers of Jesus and Mary! All of the Apostles, with the exception of Saint John the Evangelist, received the glorious crown of martyrdom—that is to say, they shed their blood in imitation of their Master, Jesus who shed His Precious Blood for them and for us on the cross. Indeed, it was the Holy Spirit who descended in power, wind, and fire; however, it must be noted that it was the Blessed Virgin Mary whose prayers and presence facilitated the coming of the Holy Spirit! If we desire in our lives to experience a powerful infusion and outpouring of the Holy Spirit, then we should turn to Mary and beg for her prayers and intercession!

Therefore, in our devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, let us never neglect to turn to Mary so that she might attain for us this special Gift, known as THE GIFT OF ALL GIFTS, and that is the HOLY SPIRIT. Let us pray frequently this short but efficacious prayer: “Come Holy Spirit, come to us through the Heart of Mary.”

For future study and reading to develop the understanding of the relationship between the Holy Spirit and Mary, His Mystical Spouse, we invite you to read the writings of Saint Maximillian Kolbe on the topic of Mary and the Holy Spirit!

Optional Memorial of Saint Christopher Magallanes, priest, and Companions, martyrs

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

FRIDAY, May 21st   Jn. 21: 15-19   “After Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples and eaten breakfast with them, he said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?’ Simon Peter answered him, ‘Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.”

• Let us recall the conversation Jesus had with Simon prior to the Transfiguration.  “Jesus asked the Apostles, ‘Who do you say I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus replied, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter,and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.’” (Mt. 16:15-20)
• These two exchanges between Jesus and Simon, now called Peter, should fill us with hope and encouragement. The one Jesus chose to be head of His Church as the first Pope denied Christ three times! Saint Matthew tell us that after his triple denial, “Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.’ And he went out and wept bitterly.” (Mt. 26:75)
• Now Jesus asks Simon Peter, “Do you love me?” Not once, but three times to allow Peter to repair for denying Jesus three times. Each time Jesus says, “Feed my lambs” or “Feed my sheep”, confirming Peter as the one to head His Church.
• What is the lesson for us? There is no sinner who cannot be forgiven if they repent. “Though your sins are like scarlet,they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. If you are willing and obedient.” (Is. 1:18-19)
• And the sinner who repents can still do great things for God! This is a message for ourselves if past or present sins are weighing heavy upon us or anyone else who may have drifted from the practice of their faith because of the weight of their sins!

TEN WAYS CONFESSION SETS US FREE! By Father Ed Broom, OMV

Sadness, confusion, disorientation, darkness, anger, and often bitterness—all of these words describe the soul living in the state of mortal sin. In fact, Jesus says that sin is slavery. (cf Jn. 8:34)

Film: The Mission and an Image of Sin  

In the film The Mission one character, portrayed by Robert De Niro, for murdering his brother is given the penance by a Jesuit priest of carrying with him a cumbersome ball of his possessions. Wherever this man who committed fratricide goes, he has to drag with him on a rope this truly burdensome baggage. After having carried out this penance for days, even climbing a mountain with it, falling down and rising again, the priest agrees that he has done sufficient penance. The priest draws close to the sinner and with a sharp knife cuts and severs the rope tied to the baggage and it cascades all the way down to the bottom of the mountain—freedom!

This slice from the film The Mission displays in one graphic scene a powerful image of what sin is like in our lives, but also the powerful effect in the soul of the sinner who repents and turns back to God through a good sacramental Confession. One of the effects of sin is a binding slavery that is like carrying a heavy weight wherever we go. The weight becomes heavier and heavier, almost to the point of being unsupportable. But then comes the transforming moment—a good sacramental Confession.

By making this well-prepared, honest, and sincere Confession the bonds of sin are broken, split asunder, and freedom is experienced—the freedom of the sons and daughters of God!

MERCY & CONFESSION 

Saint Pope John Paul II, Saint Faustina Kowalska, as well as the Angelic Doctor, Saint Thomas Aquinas, unanimously agree that mercy is the greatest attribute in the Heart of Jesus the Savior. Mercy is God’s infinite love forgiving the sinner.

There has been abundant catechesis on how to prepare for Confession, booklets on the Ten Commandments, as well as books written on the Sacrament of Confession. However, possibly not enough has been said on the many wonderful effects that are produced in the person who makes a good Confession.

This short article will focus on ten wonderful and uplifting effects that are produced in the soul of a good penitent.

1. HEALING   

The specific sacramental grace of the Sacrament of Confession is healing. Jesus is the Divine Physician. Sin wounds the soul! What cancer, leprosy, and disease is to the body, sin is to the soul. Every time we make a good Confession, Jesus, the Divine Physician, with His gentle, tender, and loving Hand touches our soul, pours out His Precious Blood, and there is a healing. During His public life Jesus healed the blind, deaf, mutes, paralytics, lepers, and even raised the dead. Still now, through His Mystical Body the Church, Jesus continues to heal His sick members through the priests in the confessional. It is true that Jesus saves us and heals us! Right now Jesus wants to heal your moral wounds!

2. FREEDOM FROM SLAVERY

As mentioned above in the scene from the movie The Mission, sin is interior slavery. Confession reverses the slavery and communicates true freedom—the freedom of the sons and daughters of God. To break the bonds of our past bad habits, our powerful addictions, our bad impulses and actions we need a powerful remedy. That remedy is direct contact with the Blood of Jesus, poured forth on Calvary that first Good Friday, but applied to every soul that makes a good Confession. Instinctively we appall physical slavery and all that this entails. Should we not have an even greater abhorrence and repugnance for the interior slavery of sin and seek freedom as soon as possible? Why not try Confession!

3. FROM CONFUSION TO PEACE

Another negative effect of living in sin is a real lack of peace and living in a state of constant confusion. Saint Augustine defines peace as “the tranquility of order.” Sin is total disorder—the tower of Babel within. A good Confession results in putting into practice the words of Saint Ignatius of Loyola as one of the purposes of the Spiritual Exercises, “To order the disordered.” Therefore, if you really want to experience a profound peace in the depths of your soul, why not try to make the best Confession in your life? Your disorder will give way to order, and peace will follow!

4. FREEDOM FROM A CONSCIENCE FILLED WITH GUILT

Living with guilt is truly hell on earth! People can go crazy or be driven to suicide due to a guilty conscience. Lady Macbeth was seen constantly washing her hands. This was an unconscious desire to be freed from the guilt of bloodshed and murder. She could not live with a guilty conscience that turned out to be a moral executioner. For that reason Shakespeare truly asserted: “Conscience does make cowards of us all.” Could it be that many people have recourse to medicine, taking pills to try to assuage and suppress the guilt that they are bearing in their conscience? Why not try Confession and experience the purity of an innocent conscience? With respect to Confession, never forget: it is free of charge. Also, there are no negative side-effects that often come about by taking medicine.

5. JOY: REJOICE IN THE LORD

Saint Thomas Aquinas states that all people are called to experience happiness or joy. If we look around us—at work, at school, on the road or freeway, we find all too often a lusterless, bland, and sad environment. Why is this the case if all are called to live in joy? The reason is this: many are looking for joy in the wrong places. Still more, many confuse pleasure with joy. Pleasure can be bought. Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit! Sin produces sadness in the soul. Only God can give us true joy. For this reason, Saint Paul reminds us: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I say it again, rejoice in the Lord.” (Phil. 4:4) Our Lady in her powerful hymn of praise, the Magnificat, echoes the same sentiments: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; and my spirit rejoices in God my savior.” (Lk. 1:46-47)

Catechists have told me over the years that when a child is waiting to make their first Confession, they experience fear and anxiety, but after confessing, they leave the confessional radiating joy. Do you want to experience constant joy? Why not make it a habit to go to Confession frequently!

6. THE PASCHAL MYSTERY: FROM DEATH TO LIFE

If we have the misfortune of committing a mortal sin, we lose the grace of God and His Friendship. However, we should never give in to despair—that is the worst of sins! Like the Prodigal Son, we should return to the home of our loving Father and launch ourselves into His loving arms, and He will forgive us. Saint Therese of Lisieux stated boldly that even if she committed all the worst sins in the world, she would run and launch herself into the Father’s arms with boundless trust! The Father’s arms are like an elevator to heaven!

The great Saint Augustine, who lived a sinful life into his early thirties, stated that a good Confession is a Lazarus experience. If you remember, Lazarus died and Jesus raised him from the dead, summoning him from the tomb after he was buried for four long days. (Jn. 11:1-44) By making a good Confession we are summoned to leave the tomb of our sins and come back to a life of grace and joy!

7. CURATIVE AND PREVENTIVE MEDICINE

Confession is like a medicine that heals the wounds of our soul. However, Confession can also serve as a means to prevent future falls! I remember once when I was coming down with a cold and a friend suggested that I take a couple tablets of Airborne, which I did. What a blessing! The cold that was about to overtake me for probably ten days to two weeks was halted in its tracks! The same can be said of frequent Confession! If we commit a mortal sin, then we should run to the confessional as soon as possible. Nonetheless, frequent Confession, even of venial sins, can serve as a remedy to prevent us from falling into the spiritual sickness that we call sin! We all know from experience, better to prevent a fall and a break, than to heal from one!

8. AN ACT OF HUMILITY TO CRUSH OUR PRIDE  

As a result of Original Sin we are all infected with the Capital Sin of Pride and we often are motivated by pride and self-love. Making a good Confession can help us grow in the opposite virtue that is essential for holiness and so pleasing to God: humility. In the Diary Divine Mercy in My Soul, Jesus revealed to Saint Faustina the three essential qualities of a good Confession: transparency (total sincerity and openness), humility, and obedience to the Confessor who represents Christ. It is important when we confess, that we do not confess the sins of our husband (or wife), neighbor, or others! Nor should we rationalize, justify, or gloss over our sins. Rather, humility means we tell it exactly like it is!

9. GROWTH IN SELF-KNOWLEDGE

Another huge blessing that flows from a well-prepared and well-confessed Confession is an increase in self-knowledge. The Greek philosopher Socrates stated: “The unexamined life is not worth living.” A noteworthy historian interjects: “He who does not know history is condemned to repeat the same errors.” Ignatian spirituality insists constantly on the importance of self-knowledge, knowing oneself and the movement of the spirits in one’s life.

Saint Ignatius asserted that one should never, ever leave off the daily Examen Prayer which is directed at self-knowledge and the awareness of God’s constant presence in our life. The desert Fathers had a short but extremely important axiom: “Know thyself.” For that reason, the person who examines their conscience well, confesses well, and consults the priest-confessor sincerely, will definitely grow in self-knowledge. By knowing themselves—their virtues as well as their sins—they can avoid falling into many future sins and avoid future tragedies!

10. FERVENT AND EFFICACIOUS HOLY COMMUNIONS

Another exceedingly important effect of a good Confession is more efficacious and fervent Holy Communions. These two Sacraments that we should receive frequently are intimately interconnected. A simple analogy could be useful: try to imagine your front room glass window pane. You have failed to clean it for more than a year. Consequently, the window has become smeared and sullied by dust, dirt, and smog, put simply, the polluted environment. So the day comes when you decide to do house cleaning and on the list is to clean that front window. You go to the store to buy Windex—a powerful and efficacious window spray. There you are, generously spraying the window, then with a dry newspaper you rub and rub. What do you notice? The window is now clear and sunlight is pouring through the window! Before, the window was half opaque; now it is completely transparent and the light of the sun can penetrate and inundate the house!

The same can be said with our soul which is like a window pane. Sin sullies, besmirches, and dirties our soul. With Confession, our dirty soul is cleansed with the Precious Blood of the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Our soul becomes pure, clean and transparent. Then when we receive Holy Communion, Jesus, who is truly the Light of the world, explodes and radiates light so that the light of Jesus’ Presence inundates the entire room of our soul. For that reason Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world” (Jn. 8:12); then He said, “You are the light of the world.” (Mt. 5:14) Thus the end result of frequent and worthy reception of these two sacraments, Confession and Holy Communion, is holiness! We are able to obey and put into practice Jesus’ command: “Be holy as your heavenly Father is holy.” (Mt. 5:48) And, with Jesus, we become a light to others!

CONCLUSION

Saint Pope John Paul II made this comment with respect to Our Lady and the Sacrament of Confession. He said that the Marian Sanctuaries—Lourdes, Fatima, Guadalupe, etc.—are spiritual clinics. In other words, we go to Marian Sanctuaries to meet Jesus, the Bread of Life in Mass and Holy Communion, but also we meet Jesus who is the Healer of our heart, mind, and soul in Confession!

Let us turn to Our Lady whom we invoke as “Mother of Mercy” and “Health of the Sick” to help us live out life to the max by having frequent recourse to the Sacrament of Confession, the true expression of the loving and merciful Heart of Jesus!

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

THURSDAY, May 20th   Jn. 17: 20-26   “Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying: ‘I pray not only for these but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me.’”

• Jesus prays not only for His apostles, but for all those who will believe through them – that is us!
• Ponder this: Jesus, at the Last Supper, looks down through time and sees us knowing Him, loving Him, and serving Him in our neighbor. Being faithful to the Sacraments, to prayer and fasting for our salvation the salvation of many souls!
• Jesus loves us as He loves the apostles, and His prayer is that we may be one – one with the Apostles, Saints, and Martyrs down through time– even as Jesus and the Father are one!   
• What does that look like? Revelation 21: 2-4: “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain for the old order has passed away.”
• But that is not all! Saint Maximilian Kolbe had this to say: “Only at God’s judgment shall we know how many mysteries of grace took place around us and how many people were saved thanks to us, without our having ever imagined it.”

POSITIVE FRUITS OF SUFFERING…   By Father Ed Broom, OMV

Suffering has positive value only inasmuch as it is united to Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in His life, Passion, death, and Resurrection. If not, much of our suffering is wasted and we become a bitter person rather than a better person!

The purpose of this article is to highlight a list of positive fruits that flow from the person who has united their suffering to the cross of Jesus, as well as the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass where Jesus renews on a daily basis His passion and death through the Sacrament of all Sacraments—the most Holy Eucharist! The following is a list to encourage us to carry our cross more courageously, following in the footsteps of Jesus and His friends, the saints. With Saint Francis of Assisi, we acclaim: “We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.”

1. UNION WITH AND IMITATION OF CHRIST.  The name Christian means follower or disciple of Christ. By suffering with courage we are united more with Jesus our Savior; we become more like Him and we imitate Him all the more closely.

2. PRAYER GROWTH.  In crucial moments of intense suffering the true followers of Christ pray all the more fervently in imitation of Jesus Himself in the Garden—He prayed all the more fervently to the point of shedding huge drops of blood. And it is so true that if we deepen our prayer life, we unite ourselves more to Christ and become living sacrifices pleasing to God the Father.

3. HUMILITY.  Confronted with excruciating sufferings—physical, psychological, emotional, moral, social or family related, etc.—we find ourselves helpless and like a little child totally dependent upon the care, protection, and love of the Eternal Father and His Divine Providence. Humility really means not depending upon myself and my limited human resources, but depending upon God. “Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 124:8) And, “The Lord is my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall lack.” (Psalm 23)

4. TRUST.  One of the modern spiritual classics is the Diary of Saint Faustina, Divine Mercy in My Soul. This great modern saint suffered intensely, but the more she suffered the more she trusted in God for her strength and support. So it must be with us; suffering should motivate us to trust in God all the more as our eternal Rock on which we can stand in navigating through the storms of life.

5. PATIENCE.  The nature of all suffering is that it takes a toll on us and forces us to practice the virtue of patience—remember the Book of Job. Maybe God Himself has sent us certain sufferings as a means by which we can grow in that all important virtue of PATIENCE! Looking in retrospect on past sufferings that we have more or less accepted, we can attest to the fact that we are at least a little bit more patient in imitation of Jesus, Mary, and the saints. Jesus said: “By your patience you will save your souls.” (Lk 21:19)

6. COMPASSION.  Still more, the virtue of compassion can be a recompense and prize for those who are undergoing the fire and storm of tribulations and sufferings. A classic example might be a woman who has survived breast cancer and is now healthy and thriving. This woman providentially meets another woman who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. The woman who has survived the ordeal can definitely commiserate with and have compassion for the woman just diagnosed. Why? For the simple reason that she went through it herself! Those who suffer in a Christian way have the capacity to be compassionate with others who are going through the same predicament. Actually the word Compassion means the ability to suffer with another.

7. PURIFICATION.  As gold is purified by fire, so are the friends of the Lord purified by the trial of sufferings. Saint John of the Cross gives us the image of a piece of cold and rusty iron cast into the fire. In time, the cold and rusty piece of iron assumes the same degree of heat as the fire and the rust disintegrates. So it is with human souls cloaked with sin and sinful tendencies. The willing acceptance of suffering for the love of Christ and in union with Christ, who suffered and died for all of humanity and all of us individually, can be a means of purifying our soul. Indeed, it must be said: we can beg the Lord to give us our Purgatory here on earth so that we can have quicker access to heaven!

8. DETACHMENT.  The human person, due to Original Sin, has a strong tendency to attach themself to persons, places, things, ideas, concepts, etc. Many of these attachments are disordered to the point of even being sinful. The storm blast of suffering can shatter these attachments. If one has been diagnosed with cancer and given six months to live, they can start to unpack their life, give things away to others, relinquish what is not really essential and necessary, and prepare themself for death, judgment, and the life to come—Heaven! Indeed, suffering can serve as a sober but very real meditation on the transitory and fleeting nature of human life! “Vanity of vanity, all is vanity” if not based on God!

9. SALVATION OF SOULS.  The children of Fatima were educated in the school of suffering, especially Jacinta and Francisco Marto—both died about two years after the last apparition of Our Lady of Fatima in October 13, 1917. After the graphic vision of hell, July 13, 1917, little Jacinta could not undertake too many sacrifices, offering her sufferings for the salvation of immortal souls! Sacrificing her favorite food—the sweet grapes of Portugal, giving up water on hot days, putting up with the painful insistence of people pestering her with questions, wearing a rough rope around her waist; Jacinta did all of these so as to collaborate with God in the salvation of immortal souls. In other words, her suffering had infinite value because she suffered for and with Jesus. When beatified by Saint Pope John Paul II he gave her the title of little victim soul—such was her thirst for the salvation of immortal souls and her willingness to suffer for them with Jesus!

10. SHORTNESS OF LIFE AND ETERNITY.  Finally, in our analysis of the positive meaning of suffering we have to come to terms with our mortality—that all of us one day have to pass through the door of death and this often entails suffering. However, life is very short as the Psalmist reminds us: “Man is like the flower of the field that rises in the morning and withers and dies as the sun goes down.” (Ps. 103:15) Jesus said these words to Saint Faustina in Diary Divine Mercy in My Soul: “You will go back to earth and there you will suffer much, but not for long; you will accomplish my will and my desires and a faithful servant of Mine will help you do this. Now rest on My bosom, on My heart, and draw from it strength and power for these sufferings because you will find neither relief nor help nor comfort anywhere else. Know that you will have much, much to suffer, but don’t let this frighten you; I am with you.” (Diary of Saint Faustina # 36)  These words of Jesus are serious, sober, but also consoling. He will always be with us and invites all of us to seek refuge and comfort, not in the things of this passing world, but to seek refuge in His bosom, seek comfort in His Most Sacred Heart. 

May Our Lady of Sorrows console us all with her loving and maternal presence! She will always be present with Jesus to help us to carry our cross patiently so as to win the reward in heaven that awaits us!

Wednesday of the Seventh Week of Easter

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

WEDNESDAY, May 19th   Jn. 17: 11B-19   “I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the Evil One.”

• This is Jesus’ prayer to His Heavenly Father on our behalf. We are to remain in the world. Why? To be salt, to be light!
• “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.” (Mt. 5:13)
• “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Mt. 5:14-16)
• At the same time, Jesus asks the Father to keep us from the Evil One, the enemy of our soul, the devil. For this we need God’s Grace!

GRACE: GOD’S RICHES AT CHRIST’S EXPENSE! By Father Ed Broom, OMV

On one occasion the Great Saint, Mystic and Woman Doctor of the Church, Saint Catherine of Siena was given by God the grace to contemplate one soul in the state of sanctifying grace. Enthralled and captivated by the magnificent beauty of this one soul, the holy woman mystic fell to her knees ready to adore this soul—believing the soul to be God Himself. God quickly informed Saint Catherine that this person was not God; put very simply, this was nothing more than a soul living in the state of sanctifying grace.  

The utter, ineffable and indescribable beauty of this one anonymous soul in the state of sanctifying grace moved Saint Catherine to the very depths of her soul and caused her to fall to her knees, almost casting her into ecstasy!

SANCTIFYING GRACE, WHAT IS IT? WHERE DOES IT COME FROM? HOW TO GET IT?  Sanctifying grace is participation in the very life of God Himself. It is the “God within us” that makes us pleasing to God. We first receive sanctifying grace at the moment of our reception of Holy Baptism. It is a free, gratuitous gift from God whose nature is to give abundantly, and as abundantly and copiously as we are willing to receive.

THE GRACE OF ALL GRACES.  In one of his many writings, Saint Alphonsus asserted the following related and pertinent to our present topic: “The grace of all graces is to die in the state of grace.” Therefore, let us present a clear but demanding pathway in our lives to appreciate and realize to the highest degree possible, the reality of grace in our soul. If we follow this program we can constantly, by making a concerted effort with the help of God’s grace (no pun intended!), preserve grace in our soul, defend grace in our inner being, grow in God’s grace, be a channel of grace to others we meet, and be a means of spreading and growing the grace of God in the world at large.

Let us turn to Mary, the Mother of God, the Mother of the Church, and the Mother of us all, who is the full of grace, to help us appreciate grace and grow in grace until we reach our Heavenly Home!

TEN WAYS THAT WE CAN GROW IN GRACE DAILY…

1. MORTAL ENEMY NUMBER ONE: SIN—MORTAL AND VENIAL. 

The worst enemy in our spiritual life in general is the reality of sin. If you like, it is toxic, poisonous, lethal, and deadly in our pursuit of living and growing in sanctifying grace. Venial sin diminishes God’s grace in our soul; mortal sin—our worst enemy—expels grace from our soul. Let us humbly beg God for the grace to detest and have an abhorrence for sin—all sin, but especially mortal sin!

2. PRAYER. 

What air is to the lungs, so is prayer to the soul. It is recorded in the life of the Jesuit scholar Suarez that after having written many solid, scholarly works, he said that he would gladly trade all of these for the value of one fervently prayed HAIL MARY! The reason? This saintly scholar, at the end of his life, arrived at a keen awareness of the value of grace and how grace flows to the soul through prayer, and especially through Mary, the full of grace! This being said, any prayer offered to God with humility, purity of intention, and love increases grace in our souls.

3. PENANCE: PRACTICE OF SACRIFICES. 

Our Lady of Fatima stated with sadness that many souls are lost for all eternity because not enough prayers and sacrifices are offered to God for the conversion of poor sinners. In the eyes of God, even though they may be small, any sacrifice made with love attains grace, and sometimes even the grace necessary for the conversion of a sinner, especially deathbed sinners. Saint Therese stated: “Pick up a pin for the love of God and you can save a soul.”

4. CHARITY/SERVICE TOWARDS OTHERS. 

All the saints are unanimous on the greatest of all virtues—it is supernatural love or charity. Saint Paul expresses this truth eloquently in his letter to the Corinthians—I Cor. 13. Get in the habit of striving on a daily basis to put into practice at least one, better yet some of the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy; they are seven apiece. By practicing concrete acts of love toward our neighbor, grace increases in our soul! Let us get to work!

5. SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION. 

Now we are ascending to a higher level or realm of attaining grace—that is to say, the Sacramental life. If we have the misfortune or disgrace of forfeiting the grace of God in our soul through committing a mortal sin, we should never despair, but place our trust in God’s Infinite Mercy. Remember the words of the Psalm: “God is slow to anger but rich in mercy.” (Ps. 145:8) Even if we have not fallen into mortal sin, we can still have recourse to frequent Confession by confessing our venial sins, thereby augmenting sanctifying grace in our souls, utilizing the Sacrament of Confession as preventive medicine as well as healing medicine!

6. DOCILITY AND OPENNESS TO THE INSPIRATIONS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

Another most efficacious means to augment grace in our soul is to live a recollected life and be open to God’s presence through the inspirations of the Holy Spirit. The more humble, silent, pure, and recollected we can become, the more powerful the work of the Holy Spirit in such a beautiful soul. Therefore, when the Holy Spirit gives us a gentle but insistent nudge, inspiration, knock at the door of our heart, each time we say YES a deluge of graces descends into the terrain of our soul and growth in holiness takes place. “If today you hear His voice harden not your hearts.” (Heb. 3:15) Rather, may our response always be: “Speak, O Lord, for your servant is listening.” (1Sam 3:10)

7. BECOME A BEGGAR BEFORE GOD, YOUR MASTER. 

Jesus stated unequivocally the importance of the prayer of petition or prayer of supplication: “Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Mt 7:7) If you humbly beg God, as well as Our Lady, the full of grace, to give you the ability to defend grace in your soul, strengthen grace in your soul, as well as grow in grace, no doubt this request will be granted. In fact, God desires to communicate grace to us even more than we desire to receive it!

8. THE GREATEST MEANS OF SKY-ROCKETTING IN GRACE: HOLY MASS AND HOLY C0MMUNION.  

By far and beyond comparison, the most efficacious means by which we can grow in grace, better yet skyrocket in grace, is a fervent, humble, confident and worthy reception of the most Holy Eucharist. The reason could not be clearer: the Eucharist is GOD HIMSELF! Therefore, decide now to make a concerted effort to attend Holy Mass and receive Holy Communion as often as possible, with passion, fervor, and burning love for Jesus in your heart. If done, every fervent Holy Communion can result in the reception of an immense ocean of graces! Yes, and immense ocean of graces!

9. HAVE MASSES OFFERED FOR YOU AND YOUR INTENTIONS. 

Arriving at the celebration of my Silver Jubilee as a priest, my good Mom won the prize of all the gifts that I received on that momentous occasion. She had 25 Masses offered for my 25 years as a priest. Explosions of grace skyrocketing to the sky, an infinite ocean of blessings and graces flowing from every one of those Masses that were offered for me and my intentions. I am infinitely grateful for such a gift and blessing—Thanks Mom!

10. OUR LADY: “THE FULL OF GRACE”. 

It goes without saying that turning to Mary, the full of grace, and praying to her frequently and fervently is one of the most efficacious means to preserve sanctifying grace in our soul, to defend it, augment it, and eventually die in the state of sanctifying grace.

Every time we pray the HAIL MARY with love and devotion, Our Lady communicates grace to our soul. Better yet, every time we recite the most Holy Rosary to Mary—50 times more graces—like a deluge—rain down from heaven into the garden of our soul. 

Therefore, let us beg Our Lady, the full of grace, to attain for us the grace of all graces—to die in the state of sanctifying grace—so as to be united with God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Mary and the Angels and Saints forever in Heaven!

Tuesday of the Seventh Week of Easter

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

TUESDAY, May 18th   Jn. 17: 1-11A   “Now, this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.”

• Our eternal life and destiny will depend upon whether or not we die in friendship with God and the one He sent, Jesus Christ!
• These words were given by the Lord to the Prophet Ezekiel: “Your people say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ But it is their way that is not just. If a righteous person turns from their righteousness and does evil, they will die for it. And if a wicked person turns away from their wickedness and does what is just and right, they will live by doing so. Yet you Israelites say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ But I will judge each of you according to your own ways.” (Ezk. 33:17-20)
• Therefore, we want to meditate on death frequently, especially our own death, so as to keep our priorities in order!

DEATH —THE GATEWAY TO ETERNAL LIFE by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

The great woman Doctor of the Church, Saint Catherine of Siena stated: “The two most important moments in our life are now and at the hour of our death. Amen.” Of course this reminds us of the prayer that the Blessed Mother loves so much—the Angelic Salutation commonly known as the Hail Mary which ends: “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.”

Given that the moment we die is of the greatest importance for every living human person, and that our eternal destiny depends on how we die, how we finish our brief earthly sojourn, we must all make a sincere, calm, but also sober and serious effort to arrive at the end of our lives in the grace of God. Saint Alphonsus Liguori, one of the most prolific writers in the Catholic Church, actually penned a spiritual masterpiece on the topic of death, the book’s title: “Preparation for Death.” The same Saint asserted: “The grace of all graces is to die in the state of grace.” That is our hope, as well as the basic purpose or thrust of this short essay—that all of us will live our lives to the fullest extent possible in the service of God and neighbor, persevering and growing in grace, and finally, and of the greatest importance, dying in the state of sanctifying grace!  

Therefore, let us converse calmly, serenely and confidently on the all-important topic of our mortality, the reality of death that nobody in this earthly residence can avoid.

1. WHAT IS DEATH?  There is a clinical-medical definition of death. However, we would like to offer a succinct and to the point theological definition of death as the following: “Death is the separation of the soul from the body.” That is to say, the moment the soul departs from the body, theologically speaking we have died and passed from this world to the next, from time into eternity, from temporal existence into eternal reality.

2. WHO DETERMINES DEATH?  Unfortunately, politicians and governments are intervening to determine the death of certain individuals. The misnomers or euphemisms utilized for this are many: euthanasia, mercy-killing, death with dignity. All of these misnomers have missed the mark totally. The reason is clear: God and only God has the right to give life to the human person; likewise, only God has the right to take the life of the human person. The Book of Job could not be clearer on this point: “Naked I came forth from my mother’s womb, and naked I return to the earth. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord. If we accept good things from the hand of the Lord, should we not also accept evil?” (Job 1:21, 2:10) Nobody, absolutely nobody has the right to take the life of another human being. That right and privilege is reserved to God alone, the origin, the author, sustainer and determiner of all life.

3. HUMAN LIFE, AND OTHER FORMS OF LIFE AND DEATH.  As a result of Original Sin, death entered into the world. (Rom 5:12). All living beings are destined to die one day, one hour, one minute, one second. However, the death of a plant, tree, insect, or animal cannot be compared to the death of a human person. Why? Because only the human person is created in the image and likeness of God and endowed with an immortal soul, a spark of God infused in the moment of conception, that will live for all eternity. Animals have rights and importance but none can be compared to the human person—in their innate dignity, as well as their destiny!

4. SHORTNESS OF LIFE.  The Bible, as well as the saints, emphasize the short, transitory, ephemeral character of human life. All must be seen and interpreted in the light of eternity—meaning forever and ever and ever! The Psalmist expresses the fleeting character of life with these words: “Our life on earth is like the flower of the field that rises its head in the morning and withers and dies as the sun goes down.” (Ps. 103:15-16) Saint James presents another familiar image: “Our life is like a puff of smoke.” (Jas. 4:14) All of us have seen a puff of smoke from a cigar, from a chimney, from a smoldering fire. It appears and dissipates and disappears in no time! The eloquent Father of the Church, the Great Saint Augustine expresses our life in these powerful terms: “Our life on earth in comparison with eternity is a mere blink of the eye.”  Try it now: blink! Time terminates; eternity begins!

5. JESUS ADMONISHES AND WARNS US ABOUT THE REALITY OF DEATH. Time and time again, Jesus admonishes and warns us about the precarious, as well as uncertain character of death in both His words and His Parables. Jesus says that death will come like a thief in the night, at the moment that you least expect it. He also says that death will come as in the time of Noah when people were eating and drinking and living it up; then the deluge descended and all of humanity was engulfed and drowned, respecting no persons, nor even plants or animals, except for the few who found refuge in the Ark.

6. JESUS’ SHORT BUT POIGNANT PARABLE: THE RICH FOOL! (Lk. 12:16-21) This rich-fool had an abundant harvest and his grain-bins filled to the max. Therefore, he decided and reasoned that he would have a long life ahead and an abundance stored up for years to come. But Jesus states starkly that he will pass from this life to the next in a sudden death that very day! Where will all the abundance end up?

7. VIGILANCE.  This being said, the essential teaching of Jesus on this point is the one word: VIGILANCE—BE ALERT, BE PREPARED!!! Jesus insists on not putting off our conversion until tomorrow—perhaps we will have no tomorrow! Rather, Jesus insists that we do God’s will right now with no procrastination, no excuses, no delay, no dragging of our feet!

8. THE TWO GREATEST TRAGEDIES ON EARTH.  The two greatest tragedies on earth are both related to the topic of DEATH! The first tragedy is that of having the misfortune of committing a Mortal Sin. This tragically deprives us of the state of sanctifying grace—the presence and friendship of God in our souls. However, the Book of Revelation/Apocalypse, warns us of what is termed “The Second-death”.  By this is meant dying physically in the state of Mortal Sin. If this physical and moral tragedy occurs, then such an individual loses their soul for all eternity! Due to their own free choice in rejecting God, they will have lost God forever and ever.

9. OUR GREATEST DESIRE: TO DIE IN THE STATE OF SANCTIFYING GRACE. As stated earlier in quoting Saint Alphonsus Liguori, the grace of all graces is to die in the state of sanctifying grace. Indeed, this is a grace that we should humbly beg for all the days of our lives. There is nothing more precious than to die in Friendship with God in the state of grace.

10. PRACTICAL MEANS OR ACTIONS TO PROCURE A HOLY & HAPPY DEATH.  We would like to offer a concrete program to reflect upon, pray over and implement in your daily life so as to attain the crown of eternal glory by dying in the state of grace.

a) LIVE EACH DAY AS IF IT WERE YOUR LAST. Yes!!! We should strive to live every day of our life as if it were our last day. Actually it could be! Call to mind any untimely or unpredicted death that comes to your mind, then apply that to yourself.  This is a great wake-up call!

b) IMITATION OF CHRIST. Meditate upon the words of the classic, written by Thomas Kempis: “It is not important a long life, but rather a holy life.” He also said, “In every deed and every thought, act as though you were to die this very day.”

c) MORTAL SIN? If you have the disgrace of falling into Mortal Sin, then like the Prodigal Son, return to God through a good Sacramental Confession as soon as possible—do not delay! In the meantime, make a perfect act of contrition of sorrow for your sins, until you can get to confession.

d) WORK HARD NOW AND REST IN ETERNITY. Among the many virtues or attributes of the saints is that of their hard-work ethic to serve God and save souls. Perhaps the motto of Saint Father Alberto Hurtado can motivate you: “There are two places to rest: the cemetery and Heaven!” While God gives us breath, time, talents and treasures, they should be used to the max!

e) DIE TO SIN—LIVE FOR GOD. By frequenting the Sacrament of Confession even when we only have venial sins to confess, we are practicing a dying, but a dying in a very good way: we are dying to the reality of sin, which is the only real evil in the world! Saint Augustine compares the Confessional to the tomb where Lazarus was buried for four days. Every good Sacramental Confession is leaving the tomb and the bandages of death and putting on new life in Christ!

f) PRAY FOR THE DEAD. It is a very salutary practice to pray for the dead in the month of November, but in all times and places. In return, the Souls in Purgatory will pray for you and the eternal salvation of your soul.

g) REMINDERS OF DEATH.  Have before your eyes the concrete reality of death and reminders of death. Passing in front of a Cemetery, a Funeral Mass, the sun going down every day, the Crucifix, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in which we celebrate the Passion, suffering, death and Resurrection of Jesus the Lord. Then draw the conclusion that one day it is my turn to die.

h) AT THE BEDSIDE OF THE DYING: OFFER HELP! When you have the opportunity to be at the bedside of some person who is in their last moments, perhaps their last agony, pray the most Holy Rosary and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy! No doubt, these prayers are most potent tools to expel the devils and attain from this dying person a truly repent heart to dispose them to die in God’s loving embrace.

i) BEG FOR THE GRACE TO RECEIVE THE LAST SACRAMENTS. Why not beg this grace for yourself as well as your loved ones—the grace to receive the Last Sacraments before passing from time to eternity? A Catholic priest administering the three Sacraments—Confession, the Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Communion (Viaticum—food for the journey), without a doubt can be a most efficacious tool for dying in the state of grace. And if the priest prays what is called “The Apostolic pardon”, then the dying can receive what is called a Plenary Indulgence and have not only their sins forgiven, but also all temporal Punishment due to their sins which are expiated and washed clean. In concrete, this means they dying person will have immediate access to Heaven upon death!

j) LOVE, TRUST, CONFIDENCE IN MARY.  In fact, every day of your life can be a concrete and immediate preparation for the day, hour and moment that you die through the intercession of Mary. Indeed, you can prepare yourself for a holy and happy death fifty times a day, every day; or if you like, 100 times! How? Every time you pray the most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary you are preparing yourself to die fifty times, yes, fifty times! Why? Because at the latter part of the Hail Mary you pray these words that refer to begging Our Lady that she attain for you a holy and happy death: “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.” If you have the habit of praying fervently the Holy Rosary, beyond the shadow of a doubt, Our Lady will be present, very close to you in the hour, the minute, the second that you pass from this life to the next, and you sit in front of the Judgment Seat of the Lord. May Our Lady and Good Saint Joseph attain for us the grace to live most holy lives, holy deaths, and pass from this life to eternal life in Heaven!

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