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Father Ed Broom, OMV, serves as Associate Pastor at St. Peter Chanel Church in Hawaiian Gardens, California. He is a member of the Religious Order, Oblates of the Virgin Mary, and was ordained by Saint John Paul II in St Peter’s Basilica on May 25, 1986. Fr. Ed is a Retreat Master and teaches Catholic Ignatian Marian Spirituality through articles, podcasts, a radio show, retreats and spiritual direction. He is the author of three books: From Humdrum to Holy, Total. Consecration to Jesus through Mary through the Mysteries of the Rosary and Road Map to Heaven, A Catholic Plan of Life.

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Father Ed Broom, OMV, serves as Associate Pastor at St. Peter Chanel Church in Hawaiian Gardens, California. He is a member of the Religious Order, Oblates of the Virgin Mary, and was ordained by Saint John Paul II in St Peter’s Basilica on May 25, 1986. Fr. Ed is a Retreat Master and teaches Catholic Ignatian Marian Spirituality through articles, podcasts, a radio show, retreats and spiritual direction. He is the author of three books: From Humdrum to Holy, Total. Consecration to Jesus through Mary through the Mysteries of the Rosary and Road Map to Heaven, A Catholic Plan of Life.

Saint Ignatius of Loyola, in his classic meditation The Two Standards presents a marked contrast: Jesus humble and attractive standing in the city of Jerusalem, and Satan ugly and horrendous sitting on a dung hill in Babylon. Jesus invites us to enlist under His Standard by embracing poverty, insults, contempt and humility, as well as all of the other virtues. Satan, on the contrary, invites us through riches, empty honors, and overweening pride, then all the other vices. (Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius: The Two Standards: No. 136-147). Being free individuals, God leaves it up to us to make our own personal choice.

NAMES FOR THE DEVIL.  There are many names for the devil found in Scripture and expressed by the saints. Biblical names are the following: devil, demon, Prince of this world, serpent, ancient serpent, accuser, Satan, Lucifer. Jesus calls the devil two names in one sentence in the Gospel of John, Chapter 8: a liar and a murderer from the beginning.

PURPOSE AND THRUST OF THIS SHORT ESSAY.  The purpose and thrust of this short essay is to highlight the many ways that the devil, “the enemy of our human nature” according to Saint Ignatius, constantly lies to us, but most especially in trying to convince us to give up our prayer life, or at least to pray less, or to pray less fervently. The following will be certain typical lies that Satan launches at disciples of Christ to destroy their prayer life or diminish its fervor and efficacy. The Word of God reminds us that if we have decided to follow God, then our life is a militancy, our life is warfare, our life is a combat zone. However, as Saint Paul encourages us: “If God is with us, who can be against us?” (Rom 8:31)

TYPICAL TEMPTATIONS OF THE DASTARDLY DEVIL WHO DESIRES OUR DOOM!

1. LATER!!!  The devil will often say: “Why don’t you pray later, just a little later, there is no hurry. Calm down and wait a bit! And later becomes never.”

2. CUT IT SHORT!  The enemy says: “Look, you are praying too long, you are going to hurt yourself. You pray for an hour??? That is way too much; just do a half an hour.”

3. PRAY TOMORROW.  Lucifer can come at you as such: “Look, you are not feeling good today; get some rest and get healthy. Then you can pray. God understands your weakness!”

4. WORK IS YOUR PRAYER.  Satan whispers in your ear: “Just work hard and offer that up as your prayer. Work is even better than prayer because by working you are helping others. After all, Paul says: “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” (Phil 2:12)  Never forget: the devil can even use and distort Scripture to meet his end—which is our condemnation.

5. WASTING YOUR TIME.  The demon can deceive you with these or similar words: “To be honest, you are wasting your time praying; your time which is so valuable, so very important, time that you could be using in a much more profitable fashion. Ben Franklin did not pray that much and look how famous he was!”

6. YOU ARE REALLY A FANATIC!  Lucifer has many tactics and one of these is simply this: to rouse up your loved ones to start attacking you, deriding you, and making fun of you with words like these: “You really are a religious fanatic! You have lost your marbles (meaning, you have lost your mind.)” Remember that Jesus was called crazy by those close to Him.

7. HYPOCRITE: A REAL FAKE!  The enemy has many weapons in his armory and here is yet another. “You think you are so holy because you pray so much, yet you fall and make mistakes—indeed, what a hypocrite you are.”

8. GOD IS NOT HELPING YOU.  The accuser can hurl this or similar words at you: “If God were close to you through your prayers, then you would never have fallen into that sin. Just give up on these useless prayers.”

9. DEVIL OF IMPURITY.  Many saints, like Saint Catherine of Siena, Saint Benedict, Saint Margaret Mary, and Saint Thomas Aquinas have been virulently assaulted by the devil of impurity; some even in prayer, some even while praying in the presence of the most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar! With this, the enemy can attack us with this firearm: “If your prayer is so important, God would not allow these humiliating and embarrassing thoughts to cross your mind.” Indeed, the devil never gives up in his assaults.

10. DEVIL OF GLUTTONY.  How often does it occur that just when you are in the middle of your prayer period, the devil comes in as a Chef presenting an exquisite gourmet meal that he is inviting you to taste and devour right now! The devil knows our weaknesses.

11. THE DEVIL OF WEARINESS AND SLEEP.  We all know too well what happened that first Holy Thursday night after the Last Supper, when Jesus was praying fervently in the Garden of Olives. Not far from Jesus were His three best friends: Peter, James, and John. (All of them saints now.) They fell asleep when they should have been awake and present to the Lord, accompanying Jesus in prayer. How common, indeed, it is that when we want to pray, and even begin to pray, we become drowsy to the point of falling asleep in our prayer period. Absence in prayer contributes to abandoning Our Lord and then falling into sin—as is evidenced by the Apostles who fell asleep in the Garden of Gethsemane.

12. THE DEVIL OF RIGHT PRIORITIES.  Then the ancient serpent, the devil, can tempt us using these or similar lies: “Helping the poor, the sick, the handicapped and the disabled is more pleasing to God then wasting your time in prayer. In fact, Jesus said that He is truly present in the poor, hungry, thirsty, sick and imprisoned. Help out these unfortunates and that is enough for your relationship with God.”

13. VOCAL PRAYER ONLY.  The devil can even use good means, so that the better and the best will be neglected. Here comes the enemy again: “Just race through those vocal prayers without stopping to think about them; that is enough.” Or “Mental prayer, meditation, contemplation, and the Holy Hour—all of that is for nuns and monks, but not for you. You are confusing your vocation!”

14. SO YOU THINK YOU ARE A SAINT!!!  Once again, often from friends or relatives, especially family members who have little or no faith, these words can be placed in their mouths by the devil: “You must think because you pray so much that you are a saint, ready to be canonized! Before long they will be making holy cards of you!”

15. RECALL OF PAST SINS.  The tempter can attack interiorly with this insidious but persistent thought: “In the past you committed so many sins; who are you to be spending so much time in prayer now???”

16. THOUGHT WORLD AND PRAYER.  Then the devil, taking advantage of the mind, can assault with other poisonous arrows, especially in the thought world, with such verbiage: “Your mind is so dirty, so filled with ugly thoughts, and there you are kneeling in prayer. You are not worthy to be praying much.”

17. HORIZONTAL MEDITATION.  Next the devil of comfort and laziness can convince you to simply stay in bed and do your prayers there, and you end up falling asleep again. This is called the devil of Horizontal Meditation; or if you like, the devil of Horizontal Contemplation.

18. THE DEVIL OF GOD’S DEAF EAR.  Astute and wily as he is, the devil can convince you that God does not listen to your prayers. Why? For the simple reason that you have been begging the Lord with a request for a prolonged period of time and God has not granted your request. Why? Because God does not hear you!!! So why waste God’s time and yours in prayer???

19. THE DEVIL OF NEXT WEEK.  We all need a vacation; so should you from prayer! The devil reasons this way: “Give yourself a break and give God a break too. You can start praying again next week. God understands.” Only next week becomes next month, or year, or never!

20. JUST MASS AND THAT’S ENOUGH.  Lucifer, once the Star of the Morning but now perverted, can pit one prayer against another prayer. He can come at you with this: “The Mass is the greatest prayer. You can’t improve on that. So just go to Mass and give up that mental prayer, the meditations that you are doing.”

21. RELIGIOUS FANATICS IN ASSYLUMS.  Then the devil can attack as such: “There are many fanatics who have ended up in the asylum for praying too much. You are on the way; you are next! Pack your bags and suitcase.”

22. BAD CONSCIENCE.  The devil can prevent sinners from having recourse to the Sacrament of Confession – through guilt and shame, or pure laziness! Living with a bad, accusatory conscience can be a real detriment to turning to prayer.

23. THE DEVIL OF PLEASURE.  In our modern, hedonistic society, the devil can convince you with these words to move you to give up prayer. “You only have one life to live: live it up! Get all the GUSTO out of life! It is Miller time! Forget prayer time.”

24. TRIALS AND CROSSES, AND THE DEVIL.  Now the devil, masked as an angel of light, tries to scare you away from prayer with the idea: “Ever since you started praying you have had so many crosses and trials! Give up that mental prayer and you will have less trials and crosses. Life will be easier and much more pleasant.”

25. FAMILY NEGLECT AND PRAYER.  Finally, the devil can even accuse you of neglecting your family with these or similar words: “You are praying so much that your family is being neglected. Give up prayer, tend to your family, and that will please God.”

In conclusion, Saint Alphonsus asserts emphatically that prayer is the key to salvation. In the Catechism of the Catholic Church on prayer, Saint Alphonsus is quoted: “He who prays will be saved; he who does not pray will be damned.” What air is to our lungs, so prayer is to our soul! Keenly aware of this fact, the devil, the enemy of our salvation, will do all that he possibly can to attack our prayer life. If the devil cannot win one battle, he will use a different strategy to win the next battle! It is incumbent upon all of us who are in spiritual combat to be keenly aware of the insidious temptations that the devil launches, especially against our prayer life, and to counter his attack by praying more often and with even greater fervor! May Our Lady, who crushes the head of the infernal serpent, help us to forcefully reject all the devil’s temptations to give up our prayer life, and instead, cling to Jesus as the anchor of our prayer life, the anchor of our faith, the anchor of our salvation!

Of all of the many graces that God has bestowed on me, I would have to consider and thank God most abundantly for the gift of the Priesthood, but also the unique, unmerited, and humbling experience of having been ordained by one of the greatest men in the history of the world—POPE SAINT JOHN PAUL II—JOHN PAUL THE GREAT!!!

Yes, it is true. I had the unique privilege of being under the holy hands of the Bishop of Rome, the future saint, John Paul II on May 25^th, 1986, which was a Sunday and the Solemnity of the Most Blessed Trinity, in which we praise the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

In all truth, I can say that I have a holy head and holy hair because I was touched, blessed and ordained by the hands of Pope Saint John Paul II. How abundant God truly is in His enormous blessings. I am a living third class relic!

The following day, after celebrating my first Mass by myself (actually my first Mass was after ordination with Pope Saint John Paul II and the many other Bishops and newly ordained priests), I had the privilege of meeting with Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta, both blessing her and then Mother kissing my hands!

So within not much more than 24 hours, I had the unique privilege of meeting with two of the greatest towering figures and modern saints—Pope Saint John Paul II and Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Without a doubt, a time in my life that I will never forget—meeting with the two greatest missionaries in the 20^th Century!

In gratitude for so many blessings, as we celebrate on May 18^th, 2020, the 100th Anniversary of the birth of Pope Saint John Paul II, whose name was Karol Wojtyla, I would like to render this great man of God homage by highlighting and thanking God for ten of his almost countless accomplishments for the Church and for the world at large.

1. TOTUS TUUS!  This great pontiff started off his pontificate by consecrating his service to the Church with a very special emblem or motto: TOTUS TUUS—Totally Yours (Mary)! This comes from the great Marian Saint, Louis de Montfort, who left us a sure and powerful path of consecration to Jesus through Mary, True Devotion to Mary, as well as his literary classic on the Rosary, The Secret of the Rosary. John Paul II wanted to receive a special protection from Mary whom he loved as Mother, Guide, Star of the Sea, and Star of the New Evangelization. Upon his numerous papal visits throughout the world, he would often seek out the Marian Sanctuary and pay tribute and honor to Mary in that sacred place. No surprise that the most visited place in his pontificate outside of Italy was Mexico, where he visited the famous shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe several times.

2. CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.  Never have we lived in a time, place and epoch with so much information. However, at the same time, never have we lived in a world with so much confusion, a true mass of confusion, and this sadly is applicable with respect to doctrinal and moral truth. For that reason, possibly the greatest literary accomplishment of John Paul II was the promulgation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. This literary masterpiece explains clearly the four pillars of Catholic Truth: 1. Dogma—Who God is and His attributes; 2. Morality—the Ten Commandments; 3. The Sacraments—Channels of Grace and Sanctification; 4. Prayer—Union and Friendship in conversation with God.

3. WORLD YOUTH DAY.  It was John Paul II who called meetings with the youth throughout the world. One even took place in Denver, Colorado in 1993, the first WYD held in either North America or an English-speaking nation. Catholic News Agency (CNA) reported: “As the registrations started coming in, it went to 150,000” said Archbishop Dennis Schnurr of Cincinnati, who served as national director for Denver’s WYD. “The final registration was 500,000. We know there were walk-ons, particularly for the final Mass. It was 750,000 people there.” Who would have ever believed that an elderly man dressed in white could attract thousands upon thousands of youth, be viewed by millions, and generate an enthusiasm that shook the very foundations of the materialistic, hedonistic, and sensual culture in which modern humanity is so deeply immersed!

4. CANONIZATIONS AND BEATIFICATIONS.  We are all called to become saints. Lumen Gentium, Chapter V, exhorts all with “The Universal call to holiness”. All of us are called to be holy, all of us are called to become saints, as Jesus so clearly reminds us: “Be holy as your heavenly Father is holy.” (Mt 5:48) However, it is worthy of mention to list ten of the most renowned figures or persons who were canonized during the 26-year Pontificate of John Paul II.

Here is the list of the Ten most renowned:

1) Saint Pio of Pietrelcina—known as Padre Pio.

2) Saint Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer—Founder of the Opus Dei Movement.

3) Saint Faustina Kowalska, the first saint to be canonized in the new Millennium, known as the Secretary of Divine Mercy.

4) Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross—Jewish convert to Catholicism, Carmelite nun, and martyr in Auschwitz. (Like Kolbe).

5) Saint Maximilian Kolbe—the Martyr of charity, who chose the two crowns that Mary offered him —the white crown of purity and the redcrown of martyrdom.

6) Saint Katharine Drexel, an American saint who gave of her riches to find her treasure in God.

7) Saint Gianna Beretta Molla, who sacrificed her life for the life of her baby in the womb.

8) Saint Juan Diego—the Apostle of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

9) Blessed Jacinta Marto—the Little Victim Soul

10) Blessed Francisco Marto—the Little Mystic.

(Jacinta and Francisco Marto were two of the three visionaries of Our Lady of Fatima. Pope Francis canonized them Saints on May 13, 2017.)

By beatifying and canonizing so many from all walks of life—Religious, priests, and Lay-people—John Paul II highlighted and exhorted all of us to pursue true holiness of life.

5. THEOLOGY OF THE BODY.  No doubt one of the greatest accomplishments in moral theology was the teaching of John Paul II on the Theology of the Body. In 1968, Pope Saint Paul VI published one of the most explosive and controversial Encyclicals in the history of the Church, Humanae Vitae. In this explosive document, Paul VI stated unequivocally that human sexuality must be open to the possibility of life, to procreation, and that any form of artificial means of contraception is intrinsically disordered. The Magisterial Teaching of John Paul II developed in greater detail this true understanding of human sexuality. Either the human person is viewed as an object to be exploited, used, and discarded or the human person is respected, loved, and cherished for their innate dignity and eternal destiny. The great Pontiff was giving a series of teachings on these great truths during his Wednesday Papal audiences, but this was interrupted by the attempted assassination May 13, 1981.

6. MERCY AND FORGIVENESS.  If you were to ask anybody about one of the most important memories of John Paul II, most likely many would call to mind the day and the moment that he was shot and almost killed on May 13, 1981. (The same month and date as the first Apparition of Our Lady of Fatima in 1917.) After his recovery in that same year of 1981, John Paul II was seen in the prison cell forgiving and embracing the man who had planned and attempted to kill the great pontiff. This would turn out to be one of the most powerful icons or images of mercy and forgiveness in the history of the world. The words of Jesus as He hung on the cross resonate far and wide in this gesture of John Paul II: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing.” (Lk 23:34)

7. SAINT FAUSTINA AND DIVINE MERCY.  As mentioned earlier, the first canonization of John Paul II in the new Millennium was that of his compatriot from Poland who lived contemporaneously with him and Kolbe, Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska. It was heard that this day, April 30^th, 2000 was the happiest day in the life of John Paul II. The reason? He both canonized Saint Faustina and officially instituted the Solemnity of Divine Mercy—the second Sunday after Easter, the crown and culmination of the Easter Octave! John Paul II felt that one of his primary missions was to promote far and wide the urgent need to be merciful and to trust in God’s Infinite Mercy.

8. MISSION OF THE REDEEMER.  Pope Saint John Paul II and Saint Mother Teresa can be seen as the two greatest Missionaries in the world in the twentieth century. Never in the history of the world was a man so visible and never had a Pope traveled so many miles, circling the globe several times in distance, visiting so many diverse places, and offering so many different talks. In his Encyclical, “Mission of the Redeemer” (1990), John Paul II stated with utmost clarity and urgency that all the baptized have an urgent call and vocation to be missionaries—to bring the Word and Person of Jesus to the whole world. The last words of Jesus were a missionary mandate: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, until the end of the world.” (Mt 28:19-20)

9. HIS ENCYCLICALS AND TEACHINGS.  Nobody can doubt that John Paul II was one of the greatest teachers in the history of Catholicism, even in the history of the world. One day he will be declared a Doctor of the Church—for the depth and spiritual profundity of his Magisterium. For sake of brevity, we will list only ten of his most renowned writings with the hope of delving into the immense ocean of his sublime teaching:

1) The Redeemer of Man (1979)

His first Papal Encyclical which set the stage for his intensely Christological Pontificate. Christ the Redeemer of Man reveals man to himself, his dignity as well as his eternal destiny.

2) Rich in Mercy (1980)

Encyclical. Emphasizing the greatest attribute in the Heart of Jesus—His mercy. This is taught by means of an explanation of the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Lk 15:11-32), that could correctly be called, “The Parable of the Merciful Father!”

3) The Gospel of Life (1995)

Encyclical. Condemns the worst moral evil of our day—abortion, killing of the innocent child in the womb. The Ignatian Two Standards comes into play: “The Gospel of Life against the Culture of Death.”

4) Faith and Reason (1998)

Encyclical. God calls us to a deep faith in His presence but we are also to use reason as a means to arrive at God. The two do not contradict each other, but rather they complement each other. Saint Thomas Aquinas can be our model.

5) Reconciliation and Penance (1984)

Apostolic Exhortation. The loss of the sense of sin and the call to return to God through the practice of Sacramental Confession.

6) Familiaris Consortio (1981)

Apostolic Exhortation. The essential value of the family as the Domestic Church and as the basic cell of society. The future of the world depends on the future of the family.

7) On the Dignity and Vocation of Women (1988)

Apostolic Letter. The woman has great dignity and value, and carries out a fundamental role in the world and in evangelization.

8) The Salvific Value of Suffering (1984)

Apostolic Letter. Human suffering has infinite value, especially when it is united to the suffering of Jesus. We must learn to sanctify our own suffering.

9) The Church and the Eucharist (2003)

Encyclical. The source and summit of the Catholic-Christian life is the Eucharist—the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus. This is found in the context of the Mystical Body of Christ, the Church.

10) Mary: Mother of the Redeemer (1987)

Encyclical. Christ is the only Redeemer, but Mary helped Him in the work of Redemption; she collaborated with Him, especially as she stood at the foot of the cross.

10. HIS DEATH: A MODEL FOR ALL OF US AS EARTHLY PILGRIMS.  At the end of his life, Pope Saint John Paul II’s health declined and deteriorated, especially in the last five years of his life. However, he taught the world an invaluable lesson: aging, suffering, and offering one’s human limitations has infinite value in the eyes of God! Jesus is our supreme Model in all times and places, but especially as He suffered and died on the cross for the salvation of all of humanity. Saint Pope John Paul II died on April 2nd, 2005, in the evening at about 9:00 p.m. It was the First Saturday of the month, dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima, but most important, it was the Vigil of the Solemnity of Divine Mercy Sunday. He died in the arms of Mary and was received into the Merciful Embrace of the Eternal Father and the Eternal Home of Heaven.

Thursday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time

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

Thursday, October 21st   Lk. 12: 49-53   Jesus said: “There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished.”

• Jesus is talking about a baptism of fire. We have all experienced baptisms of fire, haven’t we? Various kinds of tragedies in our lives that were and maybe still are very painful.
• The difference is we are the creature, He is the Creator. We are sinners, He is the innocent Lamb slain for our sins. Our crosses are shrouded in death, His cross is lifted on high in shining glory! And for those who believe in Him, death has no power, for there is a Resurrection!

POWER OF THE CROSS OF JESUS CHRIST—CONTEMPLATION by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

Let us meditate upon what the saints have said about the power of the cross and then spend time in silence and meditate upon the crucifix, the most eloquent symbol of love in the entire world. With Saint Francis of Assisi who bore the wounds of Christ in his body through the mystical grace of the stigmata, let us pray with all of our heart: “We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.”

WHAT SOME OF THE SAINTS HAVE SAID ABOUT THE CROSS…

“It is not the finest wood that feeds the fire of Divine love, but the wood of the cross.” (St. Ignatius of Loyola)

“Whenever anything disagreeable or displeasing happens to you, remember Christ crucified and be silent.” (St. John of the Cross)

“The road is narrow. He who wishes to travel it more easily must cast off all things and use the cross as his cane. In other words, he must be truly resolved to suffer willingly for the love of God in all things.” (St. John of the Cross)

“The Passion of Christ is the greatest and most stupendous work of Divine Love. The greatest and most overwhelming work of God’s love.” (St. Paul of the Cross)

“O cherished cross! Through thee my most bitter trials are replete with graces.” (St. Paul of the Cross)

“Our Savior’s passion raises men and women from the depths, lifts them up from the earth, and sets them in the heights.” (St. Maximus of Turin)

Now let us enter into our own meditation/contemplation on the Mystery of the Holy Cross as we lift our gaze to a graphic crucifix and peer into the five deep wounds of Jesus, who loved me so much that He was crucified, suffered and died for me. How great is the love of God for me!!!

1. CRUCIFIX ON THE WALL OF THE BEDROOMS IN YOUR HOME.  It is highly recommended that all of your bedrooms have a crucifix on the wall. A crucifix has a Corpus—meaning, the Body of Christ nailed to the wood of the cross. The cross without the Corpus of Christ almost deprives the cross of its real meaning. Jesus suffered and died on the cross. His Body hung on the cross for three long hours, from 12 noon to 3:00 pm, for your salvation!

2. CONTEMPLATE THE CROSS.  Get in the habit before retiring every night of spending at least a few moments in silence contemplating, looking deeply at the cross and He who died on the cross for love of you—your Savior, Jesus Christ, and offer Him your immense love and gratitude. Contemplation is a form of prayer in which we think deeply with our mind and love immensely with our heart, for the immense love that Jesus has, not just for all, but for me individually.

3. RECALL TO MIND THE WORDS JESUS SAID ON THE CROSS. A very salutary and sanctifying practice is to call to mind the seven last words (phrases) that Jesus pronounced from the cross. Take these words into your mind and your heart. Ven. Fulton J. Sheen asserts that from the pulpit of the cross, Jesus preached His last and best homily. Let us be attentive students and listeners. They are listed next.

4. MEMORIZE THE SEVEN LAST WORDS OF JESUS, THE MOST ELOQUENT PREACHER:

+ Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing. (Lk 23:34)

+ Amen, I say to you: today you will be with me in Paradise. (Lk 23:43)

+ Woman behold thy son; son behold thy Mother. (Jn 19:26-27)

+ I thirst. (Jn 19:28)

+ My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Mt 27:46)

+ It is finished. (Jn 19:30)

+ Father, into your hands I commend my spirit. (Lk 23:46)

5. IMITATE THE SAINTS AND KISS THE WOUNDS OF CHRIST.  Prayer is not simply a cerebral, that is, a merely intellectual function. Prayer involves the whole person. St. Francis and many of the saints would express their love for their crucified Savior by kissing Jesus’ five wounds on the crucifix. You do the same! By doing so, you are manifesting the heartfelt love that you have for Jesus. Every one of those open wounds that Jesus endured—the nails that perforated His hands and His feet, the lance that entered His side and pierced His Heart causing blood and water to gush forth, were for love of you and for your eternal salvation. How great is the love of the crucified Savior for you and how great His desire for the salvation of your immortal soul!

6. LIKE MARCELINO, TALK TO THE CRUCIFIED LORD. In this movie-classic, imitate the little orphan boy, Marcelino, and talk to the Lord Jesus from the depths of your heart. Use simple words, but words anointed with great love and passion, expressing your heartfelt gratitude for the Lord Jesus and all He did for you. (Movie: Miracle of Marcelino – 1955 black and white version.)

7. CONTEMPLATE THE CROSS AND CALVARY RELATED TO THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS. As you lift your gaze to Jesus hanging from the cross, call to mind the intimate relationship between Jesus crucified on Good Friday on Calvary and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Invisible as it is, and with the utmost depth of mystical meaning, every time an ordained priest offers the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, then Calvary and the crucified Lord Jesus is present. In every Mass, the fruits of the crucified Lord are available to all of humanity. Next time you go to Mass, contemplate the big Crucifix on the wall behind the priest who is celebrating Mass and remember that Calvary is present when the priest lifts up the Host and elevates the Chalice! O Sacrament most holy, O Sacrament divine, all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine.

8. JESUS’ OPEN ARMS ON THE CROSS.  Contemplate now the open arms of Jesus as He hangs from the cross. There is depth of meaning here. Saint Augustine, giving a symbolic interpretation of the crucifix and the position of Jesus’ Body says: Jesus has His head bent to kiss us; His arms open to embrace us; and His heart open to receive us! Jesus’ open arms are symbolic of the arms of the Father of the Prodigal Son. The meaning? Despite the sad reality of our many sins, God always, in all times and on all occasions, has His arms wide-open to receive us—symbolic of forgiveness. As the Prophet Isaiah reminds us: “Though your sins be as scarlet, they will be as white as the snow.” (Is 1:18) In concrete, Jesus beckons us to return to Him with a sincere and contrite heart through the reception of the Sacrament of His Mercy, the Sacrament of Confession, and be renewed, reformed, and made anew.

9. JESUS’ BLOOD STAINED BODY AND GARMENTS. As you contemplate the blood-stained body of Jesus and His few garments, the virtue of purity and modesty should surge in your mind and heart. Both the stripping of Jesus, as well as the brutal scourging at the pillar, were accepted willingly by Jesus to repair for the countless sins of impurity committed by all of humanity, and by us individually. Our Lady of Fatima commented sadly that most souls are lost due to the sins against the 6th and 9th Commandments; that is to say, sins committed against the virtue of purity. May our contemplation of the lacerated and bloody Body of the Lord Jesus inspire within us a great desire for purity—in body, mind, thought, word, deed, desire and intention. As Jesus taught us in the Beatitudes: “Blessed are the pure of heart, they will see God.” (Mt. 5:8)

10. THE CROSS AND CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS AND OURS… As you look up to the cross and contemplate Jesus with love, recall His words: “Anyone who wishes to be my follower must renounce himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” (Mt 16:24) Spend some quiet time in prayer before the Crucified Lord Jesus and open up the very depths of your heart, pour out your feelings and emotions with respect to your own crosses. Jesus desires to listen to you, to accompany you, and to help you. He is not indifferent to the cries and supplications of your heart but really desires to help you.

What might be your cross or crosses? A health problem, an economic strait, a difficult relative, a rebellious son or daughter, a tense relationship with a spouse, a work conflict, a spiritual doubt, the loss of a loved one, the pain of a past deep wound, fear of the dark and ominous clouds of the future, the fear of suffering and of your own mortality and death. All of the above can be the subject of your colloquy (talk) with the crucified Lord Jesus. Often our cross is simply too heavy because we fail to invite Jesus to come and help us carry our cross. Invite Him.

Listen to His words: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Mt 11:28-30)