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

TUESDAY, AUGUST 18^TH    Mt. 19: 23-30   “Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven.”

• Today’s Gospel is a continuation of the story of the rich young man who went away sad because he had many possessions. We can imagine Jesus saying this as He watched the rich young man walk away.
• The disciples are greatly astonished at Jesus’ words. After all, he was a righteous young man, he had obeyed the commandments since his youth. Wasn’t that enough? They are compelled to ask, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus answers, “For men this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.” 
• In truth, all are called to live two forms of poverty in imitation of Christ – material poverty and spiritual poverty. God gives us graces commensurate with our calling.
• Some are called to give up everything and follow Jesus as Peter and the apostles did. These are called to the evangelical life of poverty, chastity and obedience – the consecrated life of a religious priest or nun. They imitate Christ’s material and spiritual poverty in its radical totality.
• For lay people, married or single, we too are called to live Christ’s poverty. Let us start with Material Poverty. Christ said: “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” (Lk. 9:58) St. John Chrysostom refers us to the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, the poor man at his doorstep that he failed to help. They both die, and the rich man finds himself in torment in Hades, while Lazarus is resting in the bosom of Abraham. (cf Lk. 16:19-31)
• Chrysostom says: “Let us learn from this man not to call the rich lucky nor the poor unfortunate. Rather, if we are to tell the truth, the rich man is not the one who has collected many possessions but the one who needs few possessions; and the poor man is not the one who has no possessions but the one who has many desires.” 
• Chrysostom goes on to speak in stronger language: “To deprive is to take what belongs to another. By this we are taught that when we do not show mercy, we will be punished just like those who steal. For our money is the Lord’s however we may have gathered it. If we provide for those in need, we shall obtain great plenty. This is why God has allowed you to have more, not for you to waste on indulgences, but for you to distribute to those in need. Acting according to this pattern, one not only becomes holy but also enjoys perpetual serenity in this life.” 
• Now let us look at Spiritual Poverty. The spiritual poverty of Christ – the Son of God made man – was the humility of His unfailing obedience to will of His Heavenly Father. ^“For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.” (Jn. 6:38) We see this poverty in His first and best disciple – Our Blessed Mother. “Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done unto me according to thy word.” This is called poverty of the will.
• Chrysostom concludes thus: “Those who love God are always happy, because their whole happiness is to fulfill, even in adversity, the will of God.”

 Conforming Ourselves to the Will of God by St. Francis de Sales:

We must recollect that there is no vocation without its weariness, its bitterness, and its trials; and moreover each one would willingly change his condition with that of others, except in the case of those who are wholly resigned to the will of God.

Whosoever is not entirely resigned, but keeps on turning this way and that, never will find peace. When a person has a fever, he finds no place comfortable; he has not remained in one bed a quarter of an hour, before he wishes to be in another. It is not the bed which is in fault, but the fever, which torments him everywhere. And so a person who has not the fever of self-will, is contented everywhere and in all things, provided God be glorified. He cares not in what capacity God employs him, provided he can do therein His Divine will.

But this is not all. We must not only do the will of God, but to be really devout, we must do it cheerfully, nay, joyfully. If I were not a Bishop, perhaps, knowing what I now do, I might wish not to be one. But being one, not only am I obliged to do all that this difficult vocation requires, but I must do it joyfully, and make it agreeable to myself to do it. This is what St. Paul means when he says, “Let every man in the vocation in which he is called, therein abide with God.”

We cannot bear the crosses of others, but each one must bear his own; and that we may each bear our own, our Lord would that each should renounce himself; that is to say, his own will. “I wish this or that.” “I should be better here or there.” These are temptations. Our Lord knows best what is best for each one of us; let us do what He wills, and remain where He has placed us.

But you have asked me to give you a few practical rules for your guidance. Besides all I have told you above, you should do the following.

First, meditate every day, and especially on the Life and Death of our Lord, and you can make use of any book that may assist you. At the end of each always add a consideration of the obedience which our Lord exercised towards God His Father: for you will see that all He did was done in obedience to the will of God; and considering this will rouse you more earnestly to strive to learn His will yourself.

Secondly, before you do or prepare to do any of those duties of your calling which are apt to irritate you, think of the saints of old, who joyfully endured great and grievous things, each and all to do something pleasing in the sight of God. And what are we called upon to do?

Thirdly, often think that the real value of whatever we do is proportioned by the conformity to the will of God with which we do it. If in merely eating or drinking, I do it because it is the will of God that I should, I am doing what is more agreeable to Him, than if I were to do what should even cost me my life, without any such Divine intention.

Fourthly, I would advise you often during the day, beseech God that He would inspire you with a real love of your vocation, and that you should say, like St. Paul, when he was converted, “Lord, what will you have me do? Provided that I serve Thee, I care not in what capacity.” And by these means you may greatly humble yourself; and oh, what a treasure you will obtain! Far, far greater, doubtless, than you can ever estimate!

Fifthly, I would wish that you should consider how many saints have been in your position of life and vocation, and how they all accommodated themselves to it with great meekness and resignation, and let their example encourage you. We must love what God loves; and if He loves our vocation, let us love it also. For each his own cross is not too much. Gently mingle the office of Martha with that of Mary, diligently doing the duties of your calling, often recollecting yourself, and placing yourself in spirit at the foot of the Cross, and saying, “My Lord, whether I run, or whether I stand still, or whatever I do, I am Thine, and Thou art mine. Thou art my first Love, my Spouse, and all that I do, it is for Thee, whatsoever it be.”

Further, every evening examine yourself, and throughout the day constantly raise ejaculatory prayers to God. In all commit your cares, and trials, and contradictions, and whatever befalls you to God, comforting yourself in the thought that He blesses those who are holy, or those who are striving to become so. Keep your heart ready to bear every sort of cross and disappointment with resignation, for the sake of Him Who has borne so much for us: and may He fill thy heart and be thy guide through life!

Copyright 2020 Oblates of the Virgin Mary
St. Peter Chanel Church, Hawaiian Gardens, CA

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

MONDAY, AUGUST 17^TH   Mt. 19: 16-22   “He went away sad because he had many possessions.”   

• Jesus said “Come, follow me” to the young man, but he went away sad. We know why he was sad – he had many possessions and his possessions possessed him.
• Today a lot of people are experiencing sadness. Obviously people who have family or friends who have died of Covid-19, or who have lost their jobs and source of income because of it, are sad and they are suffering.
• But there are a lot of other people who are doing okay – they are physically well, they are surviving economically – but they too are sad, or they might say they are experiencing dryness or desolation, but they cannot give a reason for it.
• What has happened is that our world has been turned upside down, and the new normal isn’t normal. Generally speaking our church services, classes, and community life have been disrupted. Our work, recreation, and the intimacy of our social relationships have been curtailed. We’re all experiencing sadness to some degree. There is a grieving process going on that most people are unaware of, hence, they cannot work through it.
• Two Ignatian Principles are operative here. Fr. Ed’s acronym B.U.T. – Be aware, Understand, Take action. And Agere Contra – Act intensely against the sadness, or dryness, or desolation – whatever word we use to describe it.

This article by Fr. Ed Broom is for you and for me!

MOVING FROM THE DARK TUNNEL TO SUNSHINE!  By Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

The damp, misty, drizzling Monday morning, in which I leave home with a slight headache and nose-drip, can most appropriately describe the state of soul called Desolation. Indeed, there are hours, perhaps even days in which we feel as if we were traversing a tunnel that seems to have no outlet! Or if you like, days in which we feel as if we were meandering aimlessly through a dark interior, a humid and foul jungle, entangled in an emotional and spiritual tug of war in which the battle seems all but lost. These images describe the interior state of soul that St. Ignatius calls Desolation.

Fr. Tim Gallagher, OMV frequently asserts that nobody should be ashamed about experiencing this state of desolation or even finding oneself within this state. However, it is incumbent upon us to strive to use all the means at our disposal so as not to succumb to the state of desolation. Because if we do succumb, this can wreak havoc in our lives. Indeed, it could lead to irreparable damage. Sad to say, many make an attempt even against their life when immersed in the dark interior jungle of desolation.

Therefore, given that the reality of desolation is a universal phenomenon that characterizes all times, cultures, and persons, we will offer some concrete remedies so we can exit the dark night, the deep pit, the meandering misty jungle of our interior state of desolation. It must be said that many of our moral and spiritual pitfalls happen due to human fragility, but many also, due to ignorance of desolation—our lack of intellectual and spiritual formation.

GAME PLAN/STRATEGY TO CONQUER THE STATE OF DESOLATION

1. HUMBLE RECOGNITION OF THE STATE. Even though this point may appear to be obvious, it may not be when immersed in the state of desolation. We should humbly admit to ourselves and to God, who is always ready to help us, that we are in desolation. Our faith is low, as well as our hope and charity. Sadness, discouragement, even depression seem to be knocking and seeking entrance into our heart. There is the overall desire to simply chuck in the towel and abandon the fierce struggle. We must stop even for a moment and admit: “No doubt: I am in the state of desolation!”

2. PRAY IMMEDIATELY. When the devil battles to manipulate us, almost like puppets on a string, plunged as we are in an intense state of desolation, the enemy can launch arrows of deceit with these poisonous words: “Pray? Why? That is a waste of time… it never helps you anyway!” Our reaction to the wily attacks of the enemy of our soul should be agree contra—to react against the temptation and to pray immediately and all the more fervently! “Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth.” (Ps. 124:8)

3. THANK GOD! St. Paul states: “Give thanks to the Lord in all circumstances!” (1 Thess 5:18) True to himself, the devil will attack and try to persuade you with this idea: “Thank God now—that is hypocrisy. You don’t feel like doing that. You are not in the mood. You must be true to yourself!” However, calling to mind one of the many benefits and blessings that God has showered upon you in your life can truly help to dissipate the mist of desolation imbuing your soul!

4. TALK IT OUT: BRING IT TO THE LIGHT! In desolation the devil works overtime. The devil always works, but in desolation he works time and a half. Satan desires that when we find ourselves cast into desolation, we will keep it top-secret. For this reason, in talking out desolation with a spiritual guide or friend in the spirit, we humble ourselves, and the devil takes flight in the light of a humble soul!

5. WAY OF THE CROSS/STATIONS OF THE CROSS. One of my past spiritual directors told me that in his personal experience, when he found himself cast into an intense state of desolation, by making the Stations of the Cross, without fail the desolation was conquered. Our suffering compared to the sufferings of Jesus on Calvary are reduced to nothingness! St. Ignatius reminds us in the Spiritual Exercises that Jesus willingly suffered all of His agony on the cross for love of all of humanity, but also for love of each one of us individually.

6. CONTEMPLATE GOD’S BEAUTIFUL BOOK OF CREATION. Still another tool or weapon in the imperious struggle to conquer desolation could be contemplating some aspect of God’s beauty in creation, even for a short interval. The sunset or sunrise, the fluffy white clouds in a blue sky, the raiment of God’s beauty in the rainbow, the meadows decked with a variety of flowers and the redolence of their heavenly fragrance. St. Ignatius was enthralled and captivated by the stars shining in the dark night. God’s beauty reflected in His creation can cast out the gloom of a dark and murky soul immersed in desolation.

7. INVOKE THE HOLY SPIRIT. In the classical prayer to the Holy Spirit, we beg for the grace to always rejoice in His consolation. What a marked contrast: the devil insists on chaining us to an inner, somber cave of darkness called desolation. On the contrary, the Holy Spirit yearns to fill our whole being with an overflowing wave of consolation. The Holy Spirit is a God of joy, happiness and consolation! Pray: “Come, Holy Spirit, come through the Heart of Mary.” This short but fervent prayer can melt the icy glacier of desolation encrusted in our soul!

8. PHYSICAL ACTIVITY/EXERCISE. As a child, I remember the wisdom and advice of my good Mother. When she noticed I was in a state of tension, sadness, disorientation that we call desolation, she would tell me to go outside and play. By an intense engagement in some form of physical activity, whatever the source of desolation might have been, it evaporated and vanished. In desolation we cave in on ourselves; physical activity is going out of ourselves, often to others!

9. HUMBLY BEG FOR THE PRAYERS OF OTHERS. Jesus said: “Where two or more are gathered in my name, I am in their midst” and “Where two agree in my name, my Father will hear their prayer”. (Mt. 18: 19-20) In desolation humbly asking for prayers can be the means that turns the tide from desolation to consolation. If it were not for the prayers of St. Monica, we would never have experienced the conversion of St. Augustine. In the movie Little Boy, this little guy’s prayers, said with fervor and faith, actually moved the majestic mountain. Prayers of other prayer-warriors can move the smaller mountains of our interior state of desolation.

10. MARY: OUR LIFE, OUR SWEETNESS, AND OUR HOPE. It is recorded in the life of St. Frances de Sales that as a youth he traversed an intense period of profound desolation. Having lost sleep and much weight, with almost a total loss of hope, he entered into a Church dedicated to Our Lady of Victory in Paris, knelt in front of a statue of Mary, and prayed the prayer the Memorare to Our Lady. “Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection was left unaided….” Like a dark and dense mist exposed to the sunlight at midday, the desolation evaporated, and peace and joy invaded his soul. Then Frances de Sales went on to become a priest, Bishop, writer, Founder, Doctor of the Church and great saint! Thanks to the intercession of Mary—our life, our sweetness, and our hope! May Our Lady, cause of our joy, lift us from the dark valley of despair to the heights of the summits of holiness and joy!

Copyright 2020 Oblates of the Virgin Mary
St. Peter Chanel Church, Hawaiian Gardens, CA

Catechism of the Catholic Church
I. The Apostolic Tradition

75 “Christ the Lord, in whom the entire Revelation of the most high God is summed up, commanded the apostles to preach the Gospel, which had been promised beforehand by the prophets, and which he fulfilled in his own person and promulgated with his own lips. In preaching the Gospel, they were to communicate the gifts of God to all men. This Gospel was to be the source of all saving truth and moral discipline.”

In the apostolic preaching. . .

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

SUNDAY AUGUST 15^TH   Mt. 15:21-28   Then Jesus said, “O woman, great is your faith!”

 Part One: Reflection on Gospel Reading
Part Two: Humility through the Path of Humiliations by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

• This is today’s question for meditation: Can faith exist without humility?
• Jesus acknowledges the woman’s great faith. But He tests her humility, “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” Her reply? “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.”
• Don’t we say similar words before we eat from the table of the Lord: “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” Our humility confirms our faith in His Real Presence in the Eucharist.
• Jesus gives us this parable about faith and humility. (Lk. 18: 10-14) … “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’’ Jesus responds: “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
• The tax collector had faith in God and His Mercy! The Pharisee had faith in himself! The Pharisee spoke a half-truth; and a half-truth is a half-lie. He did good but he failed to give God the credit for the good he did, and he failed to accept blame for the evil he did – his faults, failings, and sins.
• Have we ever been guilty of this? Taking credit for the good we do and forgetting about the evil that we do? The only thing we have that is our own is our sins. Everything else comes from the grace and goodness of God!
• Jesus and Mary are perfect examples and models of humility. Their humility is manifested in obedience to the Will of God. Jesus is God, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity: “And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death– even death on a cross!” (Phil. 2:8) Mary said, “Behold the Handmaid of the Lord, be it done unto to me according to thy word.” (Lk. 1:38)
• Paul exhorts us. (Phil. 2: 1,3) “Therefore, if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion… Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
• That being said, Fr. Ed says the road to humility is through humiliations! To help us in our sincere desire to slay the root of all evil – pride, let us pray his meditation.

HUMILITY THROUGH THE PATH OF HUMILIATIONS by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

Humility indeed is a very difficult virtue for all of us to practice. However, it is essential for us to grow in holiness. A humble person recognizes that all the good he can do comes from God, but all of the evil he has done is his own choice and his own doing. Saint Teresa of Avila says that humility is the truth.

ROYAL PATHWAY TO HUMILITY.  Although it be exceedingly painful, the royal and most efficacious path for us to grow in humility is through the pathway of humiliations. However, it must be highlighted, humiliations that are accepted as the part of God’s Divine Providential plan. In other words, humiliations not accepted in the light of God’s Divine Providential plan can actually make us more proud, arrogant, and even bitter. Humiliations can make us either better or bitter!

CALL TO SANCTIFY OUR SUFFERINGS.  Undoubtedly humiliations can cause very intense pain in the depths of our soul. The key is to humbly recognize that humiliations will definitely come our way, and maybe even sooner than we are aware, and that we should strive to recognize them as sent by God and to accept them.

SUFFERINGS AND HUMILIATIONS WASTED!  It is all too common that all too many people, even those who call themselves believers in Christ, waste their sufferings, do not take advantage of the sufferings and humiliations that God sends them. Thus, these graces are wasted!

A GREAT EXAMPLE IN JESUS, THE SUFFERING SERVANT OF YAHWEH.  In all the aspects and circumstances of our lives Jesus is our supreme and sublime example. He Himself said: I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. (Jn. 14: 6) To help us to understand humiliations and how to react, Jesus always is our best example! This is true most especially in His Passion and death.

ONE EXAMPLE FOR OUR INSTRUCTION: CROWNING WITH THORNS!  One of the most enlightening examples in the Passion and death of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was when He suffered the crowing with thorns. This humiliating event was prophesied by the great Prophet Isaiah in these words: “He was like a lamb led to the slaughter and He did not even open up His mouth. By His wounds we are healed. (Is 53: 7) For our edification, instruction, and motivation, let us unravel, step by step, the excruciating pains, sufferings, and humiliations that Jesus willingly accepted in His crowning with thorns.

HUMILIATIONS IN THE CROWNING OF JESUS WITH THORNS

1. BOUND AND DRAGGED. After being brutally scourged at the pillar, in which Jesus lost huge quantities of blood, He was bound and dragged to a little room, very much like a prison cell. He who came to set captives free allowed Himself to be a captive and even a slave of the whims, insults, and mockeries of men.

2. THE KING’S THRONE. Jesus was, is, and always will be the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings. Despite His Kingly royalty, He was dragged into this little chamber where He was forced to sit on a huge and uncomfortable stone.  Blessed Catherine Emmerich stated that pieces of sharp glass were embedded in the huge stone, of course causing even more intense pain as Jesus sat and unwillingly underwent a night of tortures and humiliations.

3. SMACKED IN THE FACE. The torturers smacked Jesus in His Sacred Face. His face became like flint, as the Prophet Isaiah reminds us. Of course this would have resulted in bruising and bleeding.

4.PUNCHED. Above and beyond the smacking, add the fierce and violent blows to His Sacred Face. Jesus remained silent like a lamb led to the slaughter.

5. PLUCKED HIS BEARD. Once again, the Prophet Isaiah reminds us that these cruel men grabbed onto and plucked His beard. We all can imagine how much pain this caused Jesus, but He willingly suffered this great humiliation!

6.THE CROWNING WITH THORNS. One of the torturers had an insidious and diabolical idea: given that Jesus was proclaimed King, why not give Him a crown??? Not a royal crown made of gold, but a derisive, mocking, insulting crown made of thorns.

7. WEAVING AND CROWNING. Therefore, thorns were taken from nearby thorn-bushes and woven into a crown. The crown resembled the form of a crown, but was actually a crown of sharp and cruel thorns.

8. THE PAINFUL CROWNING. Then the painful and humiliating mock-ceremony took place. Insulting Jesus and with the utmost cruelty, the torturers pressed the crown of thorns onto the Sacred Head and Brow of Jesus. In the film of Gibson, The Passion of the Christ, Jesus was insultingly proclaimed: Hail, King of the worms! In all of this Jesus, the gentle Lamb of God being led to the slaughter, remained silent.

9. PRECIOUS BLOOD ISSUED FORTH. With sharp and penetrating thorns arriving deep in the skull of Jesus, His Blood issued forth with huge drops dripping to the ground. Amidst this torture, the men that surrounded Jesus ridiculed and mocked Him. The words that ushered forth from their mouths caused as much pain as the thorns that pierced His Sacred Brow.

10. BOWING DOWN AND GENUFLECTING. Mocking Jesus as King, the torturers now took their turns to bow to Him and to genuflect to Him as the Mock-King. In all of this, Jesus willingly accepted these humiliations as the will of the Eternal Father, done for love of us and for our salvation.

11. THE STICK IN FORM OF A SCEPTER. Then, once again humiliating Jesus as a mock-king, they found a stick and struck Jesus over the head with the stick, then placed it in His hands. This is the way they treated The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

12. SPAT IN HIS SACRED FACE. To intensify His suffering and humiliations, the torturers proceeded with one of the most humiliating actions that can be done to a human person—they proceeded to spit in His Face.

13. BLINDFOLDED JESUS. The mockery continued with renewed insults and blows; now it was time to find a cloth and cover Jesus’ eyes, thereby blinding Him. He who gave sight to the blind and is the Light of the world was Himself made blind. Insults, mockeries, and deprecations descended upon Him as they continued to strike His Sacred Face, but now He could not see the blows coming. Yet in all this, Jesus was silent!

14. PUNCHES, SLAPS, BLOWS, AND SPITS—Still more do they punch Jesus, strike Him on the Face, spit on Him, pull at His beard, and make sport of Him.

15. EXTENSION OF TIME. These humiliations, and there were many more, went on the whole night—Holy Thursday into Good Friday morning. Long, cruel, and tortuous hours: all accepted for love of you and me, and to teach us the superb lesson of humility!

In conclusion, for us to grow in the virtue of humility, the royal path is through humiliations. None of us will suffer the intensity and atrocity of the humiliations that Jesus went through for us. However, when we are visited by any form, type, size or color of humiliation, do not waste it! Rather think of the sufferings and tortures that Jesus underwent for your salvation, and unite your sufferings to His for your conversion, your sanctification, and for the salvation of the whole world! For the sake of His sorrowful and humiliating passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world!

Copyright 2020 Oblates of the Virgin Mary
St. Peter Chanel Church, Hawaiian Gardens, CA

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

SATURDAY AUGUST 15th Lk. 1:39-56 Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Today the Church celebrates the Assumption of Mary into Heaven, body and soul! Father Ed Broom gives us twenty Roses to put into practice and live throughout the year to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary on this great Solemnity!

MARIAN DEVOTION—LIVING IT TO THE FULL!  By Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

In his spiritual masterpiece, True Devotion to Mary, Saint Louis de Montfort expresses the exalted, sublime, and glorious role of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the plan of Redemption and in the presence of God Himself. Meditate deeply upon these words as we enter into a topic of the greatest importance for our salvation as well as the salvation of the entire world.

“Mary is the supreme masterpiece of Almighty God and He has reserved the knowledge and possession of her to Himself. She is the glorious Mother of God the Son who chose to humble and conceal her during her lifetime in order to foster humility. He called her “Woman” as if she were a stranger, although in His heart He esteemed and loved her above all men and angels. Mary is the sealed fountain and the faithful spouse of the Holy Spirit. She is the sanctuary and resting place of the Blessed Trinity, where God dwells in greater and more divine splendor than anywhere else in the universe, not excluding His dwelling above the cherubim and the seraphim. No creature may enter there without being specially privileged.” (True Devotion to Mary, Saint Louis de Montfort, #5)

 In this essay we would like to offer various practical suggestions on how we can cultivate and live out true devotion to Mary and as a consequence, learn to love more fully and completely the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Indeed, Our Lady is the shortcut to the very heart of God Himself.

FIRST, CONSECRATION TO MARY. 
At the very start of every day, upon hearing the alarm clock in the morning, let your first thoughts and words be those of your consecration to Jesus through Mary. The Cure of Ars, Saint John Marie Vianney points out that in the spiritual life if we start the day well there is a good chance that we will end it well. Start off the day offering yourself to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Great start on the highway to heaven! Saint John Damascene, a Father of the Eastern Church states: “To serve Mary and to be her courtier is the greatest honor we can possibly possess. For to serve the Queen of Heaven is already to reign on high, and to live under her commands is a greater thing than to reign.”

SECOND, BROWN SCAPULAR OF CARMEL. 
The exterior sign of our consecration to Mary is the faithful wearing of the brown scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. It is worn over your shoulders and actually rests very close to your heart—very symbolic, to be in the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The Church endows the faithful with special blessings and indulgences simply upon wearing the Scapular. Of course, the kissing of the Scapular most clearly manifests our great love for Mary our Mother and her maternal and constant love for us at all times and in all places. Saint Claude de la Colombiere, the renowned Jesuit and spiritual director of Saint Margaret Mary, gives a point which is enlightening.

He said: “Because all the forms of our love for the Blessed Virgin and all its various modes of expression cannot be equally pleasing to her, and therefore do not assist us in the same degree to reach Heaven, I say, without a moment’s hesitation, that the BROWN SCAPULAR IS THE MOST FAVORED OF ALL!” (Excerpt from Garment of Grace, pages 4-5) We strongly encourage you to purchase and read Garment of Grace so as to understand better the origin and purpose of the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, as well as to read the countless miracles that have been attributed to its faithful use!

THIRD, PRAY THE ANGELUS! 
One of the most pleasing prayers that causes Our Lady to rejoice is that of THE ANGELUS. Past Popes have traditionally prayed The Angelus on Sundays at noon. This beautiful prayer consisting of three Hail Marys is a short summary of the two pillars of our Catholic-Christian faith: the Incarnation and the Passion, death and Resurrection of Jesus, as well as the role of Mary in the work of our Redemption. If possible, you might get into the habit of praying The Angelus three times a day: 9 in the morning, 12 noon, and 6 p.m.  This could prove to be an excellent way to sanctify the morning hours, afternoon hours, and evening hours with the sweet and gentle fragrance of the presence of the Mystical Rose—the Blessed Virgin Mary. Pray humbly over the words of the great Franciscan Doctor of the Church, Saint Bonaventure and his great love for Mary: “Entrust your cause to her who is the Mother of mercy, and zealously offer her day by day most special marks of reverence. Endeavor to maintain within both body and soul the spotlessness of her purity, and walk in her footsteps, humbly and gently like her.”

FOURTH, TALK OFTEN TO MARY YOUR MOTHER. 
Friends are constantly thinking about each other, calling each other, texting each other, sending e-mails; friends always find blocks of time to go out and enjoy each other’s presence. Indeed, if we truly love another person, our greatest desire is to share our life and all we have and all we are with that person. The first and greatest of all the commandments is to love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. After our love for God should come our great love for Mary, the Mother of God, the Mother of the Church, and our Mother in the order of grace. In Spanish and Italian there is a well-known song to Mary: Santa Maria del Camino. Its meaning? On the highway of life, in our traveling towards our eternal homeland which is heaven, we earnestly desire Mary to be with us in all moments. Indeed this was one of the favorite Marian titles that Saint Ignatius treasured—in Italian: “La Madonna de la Strada”—Our Lady of the Way. May Our Lady accompany us in the midst of so many perils of body, mind, and soul to our heavenly homeland! The Founder of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary expressed this succinctly in Latin: Maria cogito, Maria invoca—Think of Mary, invoke Mary.”

FIFTH, IMITATE MARY. 
Saint Ignatius of Loyola, in the context of the Spiritual Exercises, directs us to the very center, core or heart of the Spiritual Exercises: THE PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST. Upon undertaking the all-important task of contemplating the life of Christ, Ignatius insists on begging for this specific grace: Intimate knowledge of Jesus that we love Him more ardently and follow Him more closely. There was never anyone in the world who came to know, love, and follow Jesus better than Mary. So much so, that the Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium Chapter 8 highlights that Our Lady was the first disciple of Jesus! Furthermore, no one lived a more virtuous life, aside from Jesus Himself, than Mary most holy. In the classic True Devotion to Mary, Saint Louis de Montfort lists the sublime virtues of Mary that we should be encouraged to imitate and emulate in our daily struggle for perfection. “True devotion to Our Lady is holy, that is, it leads us to avoid sin and to imitate the virtues of Mary. Her ten principal virtues are: deep humility, lively faith, blind obedience, unceasing prayer, constant self-denial, surpassing purity, ardent love, heroic patience, angelic kindness, and heavenly wisdom.” (True Devotion to Mary, Saint Louis de Montfort, #108) We imitate those with whom we associate; if we are constantly walking with Jesus and Mary this is definitely a sure path to holiness of life!

SIXTH, LEARN MORE ABOUT MARY.
There is a maxim worthy of belief: “You cannot love someone you do not know.”  This is common sense! Therefore, the more we get to know Our Lady, the more we can love her, follow her, imitate her and even bring others to her. Books, articles, magazines, pamphlets, documents, periodicals written on Our Lady are limitless! For the sake of brevity, we should like to suggest one literary classic, most likely the most well-known and published work ever on Our Lady: THE GLORIES OF MARY written by one of the greatest saints and lovers of Mary in the history of the world, Doctor of the Church and Founder of the Redemptorist Order—Saint Alphonsus Maria Liguori. This spiritual gem is a sublime but simple commentary on the Marian prayer we say at the end of the most Holy Rosary—the HAIL HOLY QUEEN! Saint Alphonsus insists that we should never fear to approach Our Lady for she is pure Mercy, as we pray: “Hail Holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope.” Having talked to several people who have read prayerfully this beautiful Marian masterpiece, the common reaction is an overflowing heart of love and devotion for Mary. Saint Alphonsus was enamored with love for Mary and it overflows to those who prayerfully read this masterpiece! Order it and start reading; you will never regret it!

SEVENTH, TEMPTATIONS? TURN TO MARY.
Our life on earth is a constant battle until we die. We all must encounter, confront and battle against three major enemies: the devil, the flesh, and the world. The devil has a mortal hatred for Mary. The Book of Genesis prophesied his crushing defeat through the woman, the second Eve who is Mary: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers. He will strike at your head, while you strike at his heel.” (Gen 3:15) When the devil is on the prowl tempting us, trying to seduce us, trying to allure us into his net or trap, then we must invoke the holy name of Mary. Indeed, very potent in the battle against Satan and his minions is praying the Hail Mary in time of temptation with great fervor, devotion and trust. “Never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection was left unaided…” (from the Marian prayer Memorare). One of the greatest preachers in the history of the Church and a Doctor of the Church is Saint Anthony. Let his words inspire you to turn to Mary in temptations and struggles: “Seek refuge in Mary because she is the city of refuge. We know that Moses set up three cities of refuge for anyone who inadvertently killed his neighbor. Now the Lord has established a refuge of mercy, Mary, even for those who deliberately commit evil. Mary provides refuge and strength for the sinner.”

EIGHTH, PROBLEMS, RUN TO MARY!
Little children are not afraid to run to their Mother when they have any sort of problem. Likewise, we should never fear running to Mary, our Heavenly Mother, when problems knock at our door. Crosses, contradictions, sufferings, and problems are part and parcel of the life of all, but especially those who decide firmly to follow in the footsteps of Jesus and Mary. A superb example for us is the person of SAINT JUAN DIEGO. This poor, simple, humble, childlike man was afflicted with a very serious problem—the seeming imminent death of his elderly uncle, Juan Bernardino. Early in the morning, while rushing to the city of Mexico to find a priest to give his uncle the Last Rites, Juan Diego encountered Our Lady of Guadalupe. With the most consoling and encouraging words, she resolved his problem and restored health to his apparently dying uncle: “Do not be afraid. I have you in the crossing of my arms, in my shadow, in the folds of my mantle.” Interpretation: Mary wants Juan Diego, as well as you and me, to find refuge in her heart, her shadow, and her very womb—so that she can form us into OTHER CHRISTS!!! Therefore, when we are loaded down with problems and crosses—run and seek refuge in the arms and Immaculate Heart of Mary! She is a loving Mother who will never neglect or forsake you!

NINTH, IMAGES OF MARY. 
When we love somebody who might not be physically present, we carry a photo of that person in our wallet, or have their picture in our home, or keep photos of them on our cell-phone. Therefore, we can look at them at will and this brings the person we love present to us—if not actually in person, at least artistically or by means of photos. Thanks be to God, in the past 2000 years there have been many artistic masterpieces done of the “Masterpiece of Creation”—Mary most holy. All of us in our homes, wallets, cars, and especially in our hearts should have an image or images of Our Lady. Paintings and pictures are countless. Beyond doubt, the most depicted person after Jesus is Mary! Choose the one or the ones that inspire you most: Our Lady of Fatima, Guadalupe, Lourdes, Perpetual Help, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows, the Holy Family, Our Lady Help of Christians—just to mention a few. Highly recommended is the enthroning of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary in your home. This practice produces abundant blessings upon the family, as well as those who come to visit the family. The saying is so true: “A picture is worth more than a thousand words.” An attractive picture, painting or statue of Mary is worth more than a billion words! May the great lover of the Immaculate inspire us by his words, Saint Maximilian Kolbe: “When we dedicate ourselves to Mary, we become instruments in her hands. Let us then be guided by her,  for she will provide for the needs of body and soul and overcome all difficulties and anxieties.”

TENTH, DEFEND MARY.
Imagine some mean person with bad will was attacking the good name of your Mother or Father—what an affront, and offense, and insult! Beyond a shadow of a doubt, you would try to defend the good name of the person who helped bring you into existence. Mary is our spiritual Mother and we should love her holy name and her heavenly privileges immensely. Therefore, we should strive to defend her to the max! Our Lady of Fatima revealed the principle offenses that wounded her Immaculate Heart. They are those who attack the following privileges: her Immaculate Conception, her Divine Maternity, and her Perpetual Virginity, as well as her holy images, and the scandalizing of innocent children whom Our Lady loves so much! It is incumbent upon all lovers of Mary to defend her by word, example, and lifestyle. Indeed, sometimes we can sin by our silence! The well-known political statesman, Edmund Burke asserted: “So that evil triumph, it is sufficient that good men do nothing.” This is called the sin of omission! Let us allow the words of the great Saint Alphonsus spur us on to love and defend Mary: “Many will not let devotion to the Blessed Virgin take root in their hearts. But blessed is the person who accepts this grace and keeps it. Such a devotion is in all who are the Lord’s heritage—in all who will praise Him eternally in heaven.”

ELEVENTH, RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNION ON MARY’S FEAST DAYS. 
One of the actions that causes Our Lady to rejoice exultantly is when we receive her Son Jesus in Holy Communion, but especially on Marian feast days. Mary always desires our union with Jesus. By far the most intimate union that exists in the whole created world is the union of our body, mind, heart and soul with the Eucharistic Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus in the moment of the reception of Holy Communion! One more step to upgrade your reception of Holy Communion: beg Our Lady to give you her Immaculate Heart so as to receive the Sacred Heart of Jesus with burning love in Holy Communion! Indeed Our Lady’s YES in the Annunciation was in a certain sense her first Holy Communion, because she received Jesus into the very depths of her body, mind, heart, and soul. Then, after receiving Holy Communion, follow the advice of Saint Louis de Montfort and render thanks to Jesus through the Magnificat of Our Lady: “My soul does magnify the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my savior…” (Lk. 1:46-55)

TWELFTH, ENTRUST YOUR LIFE AND DEATH TO OUR LADY. 
By far the most important moment for us on earth is the moment we die and how we die. This moment will determine for all of eternity our eternal destiny—either salvation or damnation, either heaven or hell! If we stay close to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, thinking of her constantly and loving her fervently, then she indeed will help us in this most critical moment, to breathe forth our soul in the state of grace. The other day, I actually prepared myself for death 200 times in one day! You might ask how??? Very simply: I prayed four Rosaries in one day, in which I prayed 200 times to Our Lady for the grace of a holy death with these words: “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.” Indeed, if we are in the habit of praying the Rosary every day (better yet, more than one Rosary) then Our Lady will be present at our dying moments to help us to breathe forth our soul in repentance, trust, and love into the hands of our loving Father and heavenly Mother. There is nothing more important in life than this: to die in the state of sanctifying grace! May Our Lady, the FULL OF GRACE, obtain for us the grace of all graces—to die in the state of grace! AMEN.

THIRTEENTH, CONSECRATE YOUR TOTAL BEING TO MARY. 
Consecrate your whole being to Mary and renew this consecration every year. There are various forms of consecration: Saint Louis de Montfort’s True Devotion to Mary; Kolbe’s consecration to the Immaculate; Father Michael Gaitley’s 33 Days to Morning Glory, as well as my own Total Consecration to Mary through the Mysteries of the Rosary by Tan Publishers. Once this consecration takes place, in which you no longer belong to yourself but are the property of Our Lady, the fruits are incredible. However, one fruit is worthy of note and a source of great consolation: trust in Our Lady’s constant presence and intercession brings interior peace of heart, mind, and soul, with freedom from anxiety and worries. Why? We belong to Our Lady, the best of Mothers, and she will watch over us and guide us and protect us, as well as our loved ones, all the days of our lives! Saint Vincent Palette spurs us on with these fiery words of love for Mary: “Those who have great devotion to Mary not only will be saved but also will, through her intercession, become great saints. Furthermore, their holiness will grow from day to day.”

FOURTEENTH, FALL INTO SIN – RUN TO MARY AND JESUS. 
Due to Original Sin, which Our Lady never had, we are sinners from conception until death. Moreover, we have a strong tendency toward sin and indeed we do fall into sin! We should never give in to discouragement, much less despair. On the contrary, our love, trust, and confidence in God’s mercy should abound all the more. When we fall into sin, let us run to Mary, and then run to Jesus who is present in a special way in the Sacrament of Confession. Mothers all have experienced a time when their little toddler fell down, possibly into the mud, bruising and sullying himself. The Mother rushed to pick up her crying child, wiped off the mud, and kissed the bruises. It is exactly the same when we fall off our spiritual bike into the grimy mud of our sins: Our Lady, good Mother that she is, rushes to help us get out of the mud and return to Jesus through a good confession. “In his eagerness to show you mercy, God has given His Son as your Advocate. And then to make your confidence even stronger, He has given you another Advocate, who obtains through her prayers whatever she asks. Go to Mary, and you will see salvation.” (Saint Alphonsus Liguori)

FIFTEENTH, NAME YOUR CHILD AFTER MARY.
One of the most important duties of parents is to give their children a noble Christian NAME. Mothers and Fathers will never fail by naming their child after Mary. In concrete, this means that the child named after Mary has a special protection from her who has the most holy and powerful name, only after the holy name of JESUS! All the devils take flight at the simple name of MARY! In the Divine Comedy, Dante depicts a devil ready to drag a soul into hell where the place of torture is already prepared for this specific soul. However, Jesus intervenes, thwarting and frustrating the plans of the devil, for the simple reason that once this soul invoked the HOLY NAME OF MARY! Names for Mary are many: Mary, Maria, Lourdes, Fatima, Guadalupe, Mary Anne, Mary Therese, Conception, Rosa Maria, Maria Rosa, Rosario, etc. As a priest, what a beautiful moment I experience when I baptize a little child with the name MARY! Get into the habit also of praying the DIVINE PRAISES, in which we pray: “Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most Holy. Blessed be her Holy and Immaculate Conception. Blessed be her Glorious Assumption. Blessed be the NAME OF MARY, Virgin and Mother.” By the way, the Liturgical Feast Day of the Holy Name of Mary is September 12th every year, four days after the Feast Day of her Birth on September 8th.

SIXTEENTH, BECOME A MARIAN APOSTLE. 
It is inevitable that if you really love somebody, then you want to make that person known and loved. This most clearly applies to our love for both Jesus and Mary. Proclaim them from the rooftops! A suggestion, following in the footsteps of the saints, in particular SAINT MAXIMILIAN KOLBE! One of the specific manners by which Kolbe would spread devotion to Our Lady, whom he most ardently called THE IMMACULATE, was to give out freely and abundantly medals of the Immaculate Conception commonly known as the Miraculous Medal. Actually, Kolbe called the medals his “Spiritual Bullets”—spiritual ammunition to kill the enemy, the devil and his army. Be practical now! Purchase a bundle of medals—maybe 500!!!  Study the image and its most beautiful symbolism and then give the medals freely and abundantly whenever God opens up a door, and there may be many doors if we have our spiritual eyes open! One of the most famous conversions was that of the Jew, Alphonse Ratisbonne, who to placate his Catholic friend, wore the Miraculous Medal. Our Lady appeared to him in a church in Rome and he was eventually converted, then his brother was converted. Alphonse went on to become a priest and founded an order for Jewish converts to the faith—all as a result of the presence of Mary, mediated through the Miraculous Medal! Let us lift our eyes and heart to Mary, inspired by the words of the Mellifluous Doctor of the Church, Saint Bernard, who wrote one of the most beautiful Marian poems, “Stella Maris”—Our Lady, Star of the Sea. “In danger, anguish or doubt, think of Mary and call upon Mary. Following her, you will never lose your way. Praying to her, you will never sink into despair. Contemplating her, you will never go wrong.”

SEVENTEENTH, SHORT PRAYERS TO MARY!
Get into the habit of offering short but fervent prayers to Mary. The saints call these aspirations: “Fiery darts that pierce the heavens.” There are many, but we will offer a few: “Mary, pray for me.”  “Sweet Heart of Mary, be my salvation.”  “O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.”  “Hail holy Queen!”  “Mary, come to my aid and save me!” Short prayers said often as a fiery dart of love can kindle our love for both Jesus and Mary into a burning flame! Saint Bonaventure will encourage you with this short but powerful ornament to Mary: “Blessed are those who abandon themselves into our Lady’s hands. Their names are written in the Book of Life.”

EIGHTEENTH, PROMOTE MARIAN-EUCHARISTIC PROCESSIONS.
A very curious fact is the following: Lourdes, France! It is well known that many miracles have occurred in Lourdes where Our Lady appeared to Saint Bernadette Soubirous 18 times in 1858. During these apparitions, Our Lady asked the little girl to dig in the ground and as a consequence the miraculous waters of Lourdes began to flow, and they flow to this very day. With great trust in Our Lady’s intercession, many have been healed. However, of paramount importance is the following: most miracles have occurred at dusk when the priest walks in the courtyard outside the Basilica in procession with the Blessed Sacrament! There in the presence of the Eucharistic Lord Jesus, the Son of Mary, many have been healed. It stands to reason: Jesus is the DIVINE PHYSICIAN. One of the titles for Our Lady is HEALTH OF THE SICK! Therefore, let us promote and attend processions in honor of Our Lady and her Eucharistic Son, and healings will come about in body, but even more important, in the souls of sinners!!! Popes have loved Our Lady. Let us listen to the words of Saint Leo the Great about the power of Mary over the devil: “The devil is always looking for someone to devour. In the same way, Mary is always looking for someone she can help in any way.”

NINETEENTH, MAY AND OCTOBER—MONTHS OF MARY.
In her infinite wisdom, the Church has set apart two special months to honor Mary: May and October. May is the month of Mary; October is the month of the most holy Rosary. In the month of May, let us strive to offer some concrete action, every day of May, to show Mary our great love for her: prayers, sacrifices, acts of charity, readings, etc. In October, let us pray the Rosary every day, or more than one, with great fervor. Let us unite our families to pray the Rosary and sing to Our Lady hymns of great joy. Let us bring the children to the feet and Heart of Mary. “Mary is more prompt than all the saints in coming to our aid. She has a great desire to comfort us. The moment she is invoked, she welcomes our prayers and grants us her assistance.” (Saint Alphonsus Liguori)

TWENTIETH, THE ROSARY, THE ROSARY, THE ROSARY.  
The prayer that Our Lady loves most is the most Holy Rosary. Let us get into the habit of praying it often and with much attention and love, and our Lady will shower us with countless blessings! Every Hail Mary prayed well is a kiss that we send up to heaven. Our Lady of Fatima appeared six times to the children—Jacinta, Francisco, and Lucia—and at every appearance she insisted that the Rosary be prayed. Actually the official name of our Lady of Fatima is OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY. Saint Pope John Paul II in his document “The Blessed Virgin Mary and the Rosary” warmly exhorted the whole world to pray the Rosary and for two specific intentions: for the family and for world peace. The Rosary priest, Ven. Father Patrick Peyton, encourages us with these words: “The family that prays together, stays together.”  “A world at prayer is a world at peace.”

 

Catechism of the Catholic Church

73 God has revealed himself fully by sending his own Son, in whom he has established his covenant for ever. the Son is his Father’s definitive Word; so there will be no further Revelation after him.

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

FRIDAY, AUGUST 14^TH   Mt. 19:3-12   Jesus said to the Pharisees, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator made them male and female and said, For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, man must not separate.”

• The Pharisees were testing Jesus about the nature and permanence of marriage. Today, Jesus through His holy Church is still being tested about the nature and permanence of marriage. As faithful Catholics, we need to be clear on the Church’s teaching on marriage and be ready to defend it.
• Catechism of the Catholic Church #1603. “The well-being of the individual person and of both human and Christian society is closely bound up with the healthy state of conjugal and family life.”89
• Catechism of the Catholic Church #1604. “For man is created in the image and likeness of God who is himself love.90 Since God created him man and woman, their mutual love becomes an image of the absolute and unfailing love with which God loves man. It is good, very good, in the Creator’s eyes, and this love which God blesses is intended to be fruitful and to be realized in the common work of watching over creation: “and God blessed them, and God said to them: ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it.'”91
• How blessed we are to know the sacred purpose of marriage in the Divine Plan and Will of God as recorded in Sacred Scripture and preserved in the teachings of His Holy Church! Therefore, we have a responsibility to defend the Sacrament of Matrimony, to help support and strengthen marriages, and to resist society’s attempts to legislate it out of existence!
• Today, let us pray for all married couples that they will be faithful to their vows and rejoice in God’s unitive and procreative purpose of marriage for their salvation and sanctification and that of their children, as well as the society at large! History has shown that when marriage and family life as defined by God fails, the society fails!
• Let us pray for engaged couples that they will receive the Sacrament of Matrimony properly disposed, with hearts set on the permanence, fecundity, and holiness of their vocation.
• Let us pray that young people will keep their minds and hearts open to whatever vocation God may call them to, and choose chastity as the necessary preparation for every vocation!

The necessary corollary to the Sacred Purpose of Marriage in the Divine Plan and Will of God is the necessity and responsibility of good parenting!

PARENTS: THE FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT TEACHERS by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

When a couple celebrates the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony in the Church they promise to each other, to the priest who presides over the Sacrament, to the Community present at the marriage, and most important to God, who witnesses and knows all things, that they will be open to having children and to raising them in the fear and love of the Lord and His Commandments.

BAPTISM.  When the child is baptized once again both godparents and especially the parents make a firm commitment to raise the child to know and love God in the Church. In the Sacrament of Baptism, the seed is planted in the soul of the child; then it is the imperious and serious obligation of the parents to bring that seed to fruition. That means in concrete that the parents must water, weed, cultivate that seed of faith so that it grows, blossoms and flourishes to the fullest extent possible. Another way of expressing this truth is that the parents are responsible for the eternal salvation of their child. On the realm and hierarchy of importance, there is nothing more sublime and important in life than to live in grace, grow in grace, persevere in grace, and die in the state of grace. As the great Moral-theologian and Doctor of the Church, Saint Alphonsus asserts: “The grace of all graces is to die in the state of grace.” It is the imperious obligation incumbent on all parents to strive for this end for themselves, as well as for their children—to get to heaven!

CHURCH DOCUMENTS AND COMMON TEACHING.  The Dogmatic Constitution from the Vatican II teachings Gaudium et Spes #52 (behind which was Karol Woytyla—the future Pope Saint John Paul II) insists on the importance of the parents as the first educators of their children in the faith. Furthermore, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, when commenting on the 4^th Commandment, Honor your father and mother, reiterates this same teaching—parents must be the teachers of their children, especially with regard to faith and morals. “The fecundity of conjugal love cannot be reduced solely to the procreation of children, but must extend to their moral education and their spiritual formation. The role of parents in education is of such importance that it is almost impossible to provide an adequate substitute. The right and duty of parents to educate their children are primordial and inalienable.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church #2221)

Therefore, in our brief essay we would like to highlight and accentuate practical points that parents can take to live out and to implement their obligation to be the light for their children, so that parents can be a solid bridge or ladder by which their children can cross from this world to eternal life in heaven!

1. SACRAMENT OF HOLY MATRIMONY. Sad to say, from the very outset, couples must be reminded and encouraged to avoid cohabitation, living together, what is sometimes termed trial-marriage, all of these living conditions in the eyes of God are sinful and harmful for the couple, for the children, towards the Church—the Mystical Body of Christ that is wounded, and towards the world at large. The common sense saying rings so true: “You cannot give what you do not have.” The couple living outside the state of grace will not be able to transmit and communicate efficiently and effectively the grace of God to their children. It is a very sad reality that many couples, and I say many couples, have trial-unions, sometimes for many years. What a loss of graces for the parents and their children! Whereas, Holy Matrimony blesses them and their children with many graces and sanctifies the Church, as well as giving good example!

2. LIVING A SACRAMENTAL LIFE.  Then once the couple has been married sacramentally in the Church, they must make a real concerted effort to receive these Sacraments frequently, fervently, and faithfully— the Sacraments of Confession and the most Holy Eucharist. Jesus said: “I am the vine and you are the branches; you are called to bring forth fruit and fruit in abundance.” (Jn. 15:5). The worthy reception of the Sacraments redounds to the blessing of the children. If you like, it is like a downpour of dew, sun, and pure wind upon the saplings in the field of their harvest—their children!

3. THE LIFE-LONG PROCESS OF PERMANENT FORMATION.  It is truly incumbent upon parents, as well as all Catholic-Christians for that matter, to take very seriously what might be termed Permanent Formation. It is interesting to note that in almost all professional fields—Doctors, Lawyers, Teachers and Professors, Architects and even Professional athletes—all must be in a perpetual process of formation. That pans out in participating in talks, seminars, weekend conferences, constant studies through reading. In other words, if the professional is not up to date in his field, he can be dismissed due to negligence. A Doctor-Surgeon who fails in an operation can not only injure the patient but be subject to expensive law-suits and lose huge sums of money. This being the case, should not parents and adults in the faith be so to speak Professional Catholics??? Would any well-educated adult be content to stagnate at a juvenile, elementary school level in the Faith? The law of growth applies to all—professionals, athletes, as well as Parents with respect to their growth in faith.

4. WHAT THEN SHOULD I BE STUDYING, LEARNING, TO ROUND OUT MY PEREMANT FORMATION??? The above is a very important question, but not easy to respond to given the many demands of the modern and complicated life-style that we are immersed in! We have never lived in a society with so much information and actually good literature. However, at the same time, we have never lived in a society with so much mass-confusion!!!

5. WHAT THEN? HOW CAN I DISCERN? The response to these two questions follows from classical Christian-Catholic Theology and Pastoral Formation. And it is this: SPIRITUAL DIRECTION. Baseball players need coaches; entrepreneurs in business need mentors; teachers, principals need guides. Even more important in our pursuit for holiness and salvation do we have a dire need for a capable and competent Spiritual Director. This being said, in the context of spiritual direction, as a parent you should explain the context of your vocation of Holy Matrimony, your work, your children and milieu, and through discernment the Spiritual Director will shed light on your need and the process by which you can arrive at the process of permanent formation. Jesus said it; “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? (Lk. 6:39) Competent Spiritual Direction illuminates the pathway to God and salvation! Take advantage of it!

6. ACTIONS ARE POWERFUL MOTIVATIONAL TOOLS: LOVE BETWEEN THE COUPLE. It must be said with the utmost clarity that the parents will be superb educators when their relationship with God is growing by leaps and bounds. However, it must be that the love the couple has for God flows over like an abundant river into the mutual love that they promised towards each other on their wedding day! Put bluntly, if children are to be educated in the faith, they must be instructed to know and love God, but also they must see the love of God reflected in the way their Mother and Father truly love each other! If the children hear a lot of God-language from their parents but this is coupled with harsh words, cruel and prolonged silences, a constant anger, sarcasm and bitterness between their parents, then the seed of the Word falls on thorns and will quickly be choked out.

7. COME APART FOR A WHILE AND REST WITH ME!!! If parents truly want to be good teachers to their children, then they must heed the words of Jesus to the Apostles and to us: “Come apart and rest for a while…” (Mk. 6:31) As it was, the Apostles were being overwhelmed with work and demands such that they barely had even enough time to eat. Consequently, Jesus told them to pull back and rest with Him for a while, and then back into the battle-ground. Ideally speaking, on an annual basis parents should pull out from the hustle and bustle of the rat-race and find some time for a Spiritual Retreat. If not there is the danger of burn out! In order to recharge the spiritual batteries, it is necessary to have time alone with the Lord, at least a weekend Retreat. In the middle of November 2018, I went off with 123 adults to a Retreat house Friday night, Saturday, and half of Sunday to give them a wonderful weekend Retreat. The graces were many and the adults were able to recharge their spiritual batteries with talks, silent meditations, spiritual reading, quiet and reflective walks, and most important—Confession and Holy Mass and Holy Communion. Jesus Himself would separate from the multitude to spend deep and quality time in communion with His Heavenly Father.

8. SUNDAY: THE DAY OF THE LORD AND FAMILY DAY.  Saint Pope John Paul II penned an all-important short but substantial document, Apostolic Letter Dies Domine —the Day of the Lord (May 31, 1998). The essence of this document is that the modern world is losing the sense of the sacred character of Sunday. In other words, Sunday is becoming like an extension of Saturday: shopping, cleaning, working, eating, enjoying with the end result of forgetting to keep holy the Sabbath and even omitting attendance and participation in Holy Mass—which must be the very heart of Sunday—the Day of the Lord, the Lord’s Day! In addition to being the Lord’s Day with fervent assistance and participation in Holy Mass, Sunday should be Family Day. This is the message of Saint Pope John Paul II. The primary institution in society, the primary building block and basic cell, the domestic church—the family—is under violent attack and in danger of being ripped and rent asunder. An excellent way to carry out and implement the correct formation of children and teens is for them to enjoy Sunday with their parents. Mass, followed by a substantial brunch, then fun time in the park with some physical activity: walking, or biking, or hiking, or if you like, sports. Then rest at the picnic table in the park for some wholesome family sharing—no phones or electronic devices. Let all of the members in the family share what is on his/her mind and the others engage in attentive and charitable listening. Indeed, it must be said that communication is at an all-time low between parents and children, especially with the teens. May Sunday after Mass, be the time to really connect and communicate with your kids! Now is the time, do not say TOMORROW! By the way, tomorrow never comes; it is beyond our grasp and may never arrive at all! We only have today!

9. PARISH ONGOING FORMATION GROUPS. Check out your Parish and the groups that you, your spouse and your children can become involved in. Ongoing catechesis, Bible groups, Marian Consecration programs, Spiritual Exercises opportunities, Youth groups and activities, the Legion of Mary—all of the above, and other groups can serve as a catalyst to motivate parents and their family to get to know, love, and serve the Lord with greater vigor and enthusiasm!

10. LIKE MARY, BE MISSIONARIES!  After the Blessed Virgin Mary conceived Jesus through the Holy Spirit, she went in haste to visit her cousin Saint Elizabeth. The joy of the Good News welled up in the Immaculate Heart of Mary and she could not contain it. The Holy Spirit moved and motivated Mary to bring Jesus to others. May Mary, whom Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta called, “The first Missionary of Charity”, be an example for parents and their children! Indeed, one of the most efficacious ways that one can grow in one’s faith is to share it with others. Saint Thomas Aquinas points out that when we share on a material plane we become impoverished. On the contrary, when we learn the art of giving and sharing our faith with others, the more we give spiritually, the more God, the Author of all good gifts, fills us with His riches and grace. Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, born-again Christians—we meet them all over the town, in every place with their fervent message. As Catholics, we should be even more fervent in our desire in our natural family and as part of the Catholic Church, which is the family of God, to share the Good News, the Gospel, to the whole world.  The last words of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew were: “Go out to the whole world and teach what I taught you; baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. And behold I will be with you even until the end of time.” (Mt 28:19-20)

In conclusion it is our most ardent desire and hope that parents will take very seriously their obligation to work on their own personal permanent formation so that they can be sure guides for their children on the highway to heaven. May Our Lady who is the Stella Maris, Star of the Sea, guide as safely to the port of salvation!

Copyright 2020 Oblates of the Virgin Mary
St. Peter Chanel Church, Hawaiian Gardens, CA