Faith is the theological virtue by which we believe in God and all that He says because He (God) can neither deceive nor be deceived. In other words,”Faith is believing in God without seeing Him.” For that reason, Jesus gently rebuked the “Doubting Thomas”  after which the converted Apostle proclaimed, “My Lord and my God.”

Faith can move mountains.   Lord, I believe , but help my lack of belief.  O you of little faith, why do you doubt!  If you had the faith the size of a mustard seed, you could tell the  tree to be uprooted and thrown into the sea, if you only believe!  These are all short verses gleaned from the Bible, that we have probably heard many times. Then why is it that our faith falters, wavers, and at times it simply caves in?  The reason is simple! Faith must be understood, appreciated, practiced, cultivated and defended against the many enemies.   Points of reflection on faith!

1. GIFT.  Faith is a supernatural/theological virtue given gratuitously by God, in the moment of Baptism. Not to be earned, but received freely!  In the very moment the waters of baptism are trickling off the head,  the three theological virtues of faith, hope and charity  are infused!

2. THANKSGIVING.  The natural response to the reception of any gift is gratitude. “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His mercy endures forever.” St. Paul’s affirms this saying that we should give thanks to God on all occasions… Jesus marvelled, after He healed the ten lepers, that only one returned to give thanks!

3. EXERCISE YOUR FAITH.   Similar to any natural gift and talent, music, writing, public speaking, sports, lifting weights, faith must be exercised. If not faith becomes weak, sickly and even can be lost!  How many of us know relatives and friends who once practiced their faith, but now do not even believe!  Be thankful! It could be your or me!

4. CONCRETE WAYS TO EXERCISE/PRACTICE ONE’S FAITH.  Making the sign of the cross slowly and believing, results in greater faith in the greatest mystery of faith: the most Holy Trinity. A genuflection is a corporal/body gesture done in front of the Blessed Sacrament, manifesting belief that Jesus is truly “Present” in the most Blessed Sacrament.  A resounding “Amen” in prayer and upon receiving Holy Communion, once again is an act of faith. In short, be more cognizant of simple acts of faith done on a daily basis!

5. PRAYER.    The holy Jesuit priest, Father John Hardon, once  asserted that those who have lost their faith are those who have given up the practice of prayer.  Stands to reason! Why? Prayer is essential an act of faith in which we converse with a God who we do not see, That precisely is faith, believing in He who we do not see!

6. STUDY/KNOWLEDGE. Logic proves that we cannot love what/who we do not see. Therefore, growth in faith demands a serious application to studying one’s faith. A good starting point, might be to simply read a good catechism. One of the spiritual masterpieces in the last 25 years is the  Catechism of the Catholic Church. As in any good catechism, the CCC is divided into 4 basic pillars: Dogma (The Creed— what we believe as catholics), Morality, a detailed explanation of the 10 commandments, Sacraments, the channels of grace through we are sanctified and finally Prayer, the key to salvation, the spiritual air to our spiritual lungs!

7. BEGGARS!  Why not imitate the blind beggar Bartimeus!  Beg the Lord every day for a deeper faith!  “Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you…(Mt 7:7)  Insistent children beg and bug their parents to take them to amusement parks, movie theatres, and to buy them candy.  Should not we, “Children of God” be even more insistent in begging for supernatural gifts, that will help us to heaven???

8.  TRIALS.  Faith must be put to the test, like Abraham about to sacrifice his son Isaac, and like the holy and just Job, who was sorely tried losing family members, animals, friends, even his own health, as he sat on the dung heap scraping himself with a potsherd. The afflicted man cried out, ” Naked I came from my mother’s womb and naked I return to the earth. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord. If we accept good things from the Lord, why no the bad?(Book of Job).   Saint James goes all out, in the very start of his letter on the value of trials to fortify faith: “Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, for you know that testing of your faith produces perseverance, and let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be  perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4) God often sends us trials/earthquakes to shake us out of the stupor of our complacency!

9. SHARING!   Ironically, when we give somebody something in the material realm, we become more impoverished.  However, by sharing one’s faith with another, the “Faith-sharer” loses nothing but gains all the more.    Our faith is not meant to be hidden in a treasure-box, but rather shared fully, freely and joyfully! May Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta be our example!

10. MARY, THE WOMAN OF FAITH.  At the prospect of the Passion and death of Jesus, the faith of the Apostles was shaken to the very foundation.  On Palm Sunday He was proclaimed as King; then 5 days later He was crucified between two thieves! A very hard pill to swallow and digest! Mary, the woman of faith, suffered excruciating pains at the suffering and death of her Son. However, she never doubted! For that reason,  St. Ignatius and  the Catholic tradition, maintain that when Jesus rose from the dead, He first appeared to Mary His mother. Therefore, in our spiritual journey of faith, longing and yearning for our homeland, let us lift up our eyes to Mary, “The Star of the Sea” and entrust our small, weak,  ship (our soul) to arrive safely at the port of salvation!  “Ave Stella Maris!”

Human suffering, still-born births, tragic fatal accidents, terrorism attacks and loss of the innocent, children suffering and dying due to malnutrition(thousands every day), healthy, dynamic, intelligent persons suffering from Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s and sometimes both at the same time— is there any meaning to this human predicament called “Suffering?”

In and of itself, suffering is neutral– meaning, that it has neither positive nor negative moral  value! However, if one understands suffering in the light of the life of Jesus, especially in the light of His Passion, suffering and death on the cross that first Good Friday, then indeed suffering has not only value, but infinite value!

However, the key is this!  Our suffering must be united to the suffering and death of Jesus. How true the  pithy saying: “Suffering either makes you better or bitter!”    If your suffering is united to Jesus’ suffering on the cross and connected sacramentally to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, then you indeed have discovered the key to holiness, the secret of the saints!  In sum, suffering sanctifies or crushes us. If  we unite our cross to the cross of Christ and invite Him to help us to carry our cross then every step we walk with  Jesus we become more holy!

What then are some positive fruits that  blossom in our souls by suffering in union with Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?

1. PRAYER GROWTH!  Suffering often forces us to our knees for the simple reason that we become keenly aware of how fragile and weak we are and how very little we can do of our own accord!  How true the saying: “No atheists in foxholes!”

2. HUMILITY.  Once again, in suffering our forces are depleted– often physically, emotionally, intellectually. Therefore, we must rely on God’s strength.  “Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”

3. COMPASSION.   If you have suffered intensely, excruciating pains, and someone approaches you with similar pain, then you can commiserate and have compassion on him/her, having gone through a similar dolorous plight. For example, a woman who has suffered through and survived “Breast-cancer” can certainly shed tears with a friend who reveals to her the detection of the”Spot on the breast”.  Compassion!  What a beautiful virtue that means, a willingness to suffer with others.  Fr Bruno Lanteri affirmed that the suffering sinners should come to the priest who should be willing to shed and share and unite trears together!  Archbishop Fulton Sheen defines the priest as “The victim who offers the Victim!”

4. PATIENCE.  Suffering is hard, draining, depleting, but if  accepted willingly and united to Jesus, then the beautiful– all so necessary virtue — that of patience is acquiered.  How important!  Jesus said that by your patience you will save your souls!

5. SAVE SOULS!   Our Lady of Fatima and Our Lady of Lourdes both exhorted the world to pray but also to offer up sacrifices.  Suffering and sacrifice are synonymous! By suffering  with supernatural motives for love of God and for the salvation of souls, we can actually collaborate with the Lord in saving immortal souls for all eternity.

6. LOVE. Jesus once said to St. Faustina Kowalska that the best way to measure love is the measure that one is willing to suffer for the loved one. Best example! Good Friday and all that Jesus suffered for you and for me!  St Francis de Sales chimes in with, “The measure to love God is to love God without measure.”

7. DETACHMENT.   We all have the tendency to cling to persons, places, things, and even our own opinions (often quite superficial!). Confronted with our mortality, a near death experience, or a dangerous operation looming in the near future, our disordered attachments, our  clinging to our little “toys”     can manifest itself as ridiculous.  “Vanity of vanities”, all is vanity if not related to our final end: the Honor and Glory of God and our eternal salvation! Why cling to dust and ashes?  The more we empty our hearts of self, the more room for the Lord, His values and His Kingdom!

8. PURIFIES.  As gold is purified by fire, so is the soul of the follower of the Crucified Lord by the crucible of suffering.  Debtors indeed we all are! We all have our quota of sins!  Better to pay now than to pay later. Suffering willingly accepted, can be utilized to shorten our Purgatory after we die; who knows, maybe eliminate it totally, if the suffering results in perfect love!

9. VICTIM SOUL AND SUFFERING!  Among the most admirable individuals who have ever walked the face of the earth are the very few, but highly noble and deeply charitable, “Victim Souls”.  Padre Pio, St Therese of Lisieux, Blessed Jacinta Marto— just to mention a few, burned with a consuming love for God, a desire to repair for sins, and a hunger for the salvation of souls. For that reason, little Jacinta would deprive herself of food, water, comfort, honor, luscious grapes(her favorite) and even dance! Why? This suffering would console the Heart of Jesus, but result in the  conversion of sinners and the salvation  of souls! Don’t forget! Jacinta was only a small child! Sanctity is for all; it transcends time, culture, one’s past life and circumstances! Every sunrise God gives a new a bright future!

10. CONSOLES THE HEARTS OF JESUS AND MARY.   In Fatima, a later vision was that of the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary. The Heart of Mary was surrounded, encircled and penetrated by sharp thorns.  We have all been pricked by a thorn in our garden: ouch!!!  Can you imagine your heart pierced by a thorn!!! Let us unite our sufferings to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary, and by holy lives extricate those piercing thorns and crown Jesus and Mary as King and Queen of our hearts!

In conclusion, suffering has meaning only inasmuch as it is united to the cross, passion, death,  of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Either suffering makes us better or bitter! Unite your physical, emotional, social, professional, moral sufferings to Jesus! Place them on the altar, on the paten, and Jesus’ suffering and yours will be united and produce an infinite outpouring of grace. Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us!

Jesus said, “Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.”  Clearly, Jesus is calling all of us to arrive at perfection through living out a life of holiness. We are all called to be saints! Proof!
In heaven is present, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the angels and the  SAINTS!  Therefore, no way around it: we are all called to be saints!  Athletes have a game plan; soldiers have military strategy; business champions  have hammered out to the most minute detail their goals, objectives and strategies.  Should not followers of Christ, have their own  strategy? Following are (7) key ideas to arrive at perfection.

1. PRAYER!  Prayer must be the very breath and life of our soul. Prayer unites us to God; communicates peace and joy; obtains power to resist temptations; it encourages us in our battles. It is the key that will open up heaven to us! Find time, place, silence  and good will to pray more and better every day.  St. Augustine encourages us with these words: “He who prays well lives well; he who lives well, dies well, he who dies well, all is well!”

2. AVOID SIN.  The antithesis of love for God is love for sin. Born as sinners, inclined to sin, surrounded by sinners and sinful institutions, tempted to sin— this is the human condition! However, it is our obligation to use all of the means at our disposition, the grace of God and good will, to resist sin even to the  point of willingness to die rather than sin. Remember the motto of  St. Dominic Savio: “Death rather than sin.” He meant and lived it— as well as the army of saints in heaven!

3. CONFESSION.  Confession is an indispensable means of grace to heal us of our past wounds contracted due to sin. The specific  sacramental grace that flows from Confession is that of healing the wounds caused by sin.  Confession  is like going to the doctor; it can be curative as well as preventive. Indeed better to prevent a sickness than to heal it!  Frequent confession puts a check on the entrance of sin into the door of our hearts!  Trust God! Try it!

4.HOLY COMMUNION. Of course, there is no greater means to grow in holiness and to grow in perfection than the faith-filled, fervent, and frequent reception of Holy Communion.  The promise of Jesus is most consoling— HEAVEN!  “I am the Bread of life, whoever eats my body and drinks my blood will have everlasting life and I will raise him up on the last day.” (Jn.6) No greater promise exists underneath the sun than entrance into heaven.  The ticket is clear: Holy Communion!  We become like what we eat!  If we nourish ourselves frequently on Jesus Himself, than we start to think like Him (Paul says to put on the mind of Christ), feel like Him, act like Him and love like Him and to be transformed into Him.  As St. Paul clearly states:”No longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.”   Indeed “Spiritual Heart-transplants” are possible every time we receive Holy Communion!

5. STUDY/LEARN YOUR FAITH!   Impossible to love somebody you do not know— common sense!  Obviously, we cannot love our Catholic faith and Jesus who is the very center of our faith, if we do not know our faith.  The very closure of the book of Jonas, laments that these people do not know their left hand from their right hand!   Many who call themselves “Catholics”  do not have the bare minimum of knowledge of their faith.  As a well-known priest once stated, with a tinge of sarcasm, “Many catholics do not know the difference between a Sacrament and a bicycle pump!” How to grow?  Read the Bible, the lives of saints, daily Mass and homily, conferences and retreats, catholic radio and t.v. Bible classes, Internet catholic websites. We have never lived in a society with so much information, but also with so much confusion.   Determine to become a well-educated catholic!

6. SHARE YOUR FAITH.   Your faith is not made to be kept to yourself, The light should not be put underneath the bushel-basket.  One of the best ways to grow in your faith is when you have shared your faith with others.  St. Thomas Aquinas draws this contrast!  In giving materially, one loses, leaves with less! However, in giving of one’s faith— spiritual treasures, the knowledge and love of God– one is not impoverished by giving.  No! By giving gratuitously to others spiritual treasures, the giver is enriched all the  more! Mother Teresa said: “Give until it hurts!” St. Paul said: “There is more joy in giving than in receiving.”   Our best example by far, Jesus, Our Lord and God, gave all even to the last drop of His Precious Blood!  What you have received free of charge, give freely and abundantly!

7. MARY: THE MASTERPIECE OF CREATION!  Last but not least, love and devotion to Mary must be a fundamental part of your life. All the saints are unanimous: devotion to Mary and confidence in her powerful intercession can never be underestimated as one of the most powerful means to grow in holiness!  Remember the inspiring words of the Patron saint of confessors,and parish priests, the holy Cure of Ars, St. John Marie Vianney:  “We cannot enter a house without first speaking to the porter. Similarly, we cannot enter heaven without calling upon the aid of the Blessed Virgin Mary who is the Portress of Heaven.” Love Mary, call upon her, invoke her and she will be there opening the gate of heaven for you for all eternity!

Confusion, half-truths, euphemisms (” sugar-coated lies”), heresies,  deceit and trickery— the world today  is full of all of the above!  However, there are major errors that have to be addressed and conquered!  Let us unmask a few of the most common but pernicious errors in the modern world!

1. MATERIALISM.   Many today are convinced that true happiness can be found in “Having”
possessing, accumulating, buying, storing up for the future.  Jesus, born in the stable in Bethlehem, Jesus exercising the office of carpenter, Jesus spending 40 days and 40 nights in the desert, Jesus, who said that the foxes have their holes and the birds of the air have their nests, preached frequently and lived a totally different life!  He challenges all of us with these words: “What would it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?”  Also, “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and everything else will be given you…”   The richest man and the poorest man end up in the same place: 6 feet beneath the ground.   Be truly rich:  ENTHRONE JESUS AS KING OF YOUR HEART!

2. HEDONISM.   Another false philosophy!  Ascribes that true happiness can be found in pleasure. Pleasure indeed is a god!   “You have one life to live: live it up! Enjoy life!   Once again, Jesus thunders lightning bolts demolishing this belief, in the Parable of Lazarus and the Rich man. (Lk. 16). The rich  man ate, drank, feasted splendidly— every day was like Thanksgiving!  He dressed in fine purple linen.   A stark contrast to Lazarus, the poor man outside the gate, with gaping wounds licked by the dogs, longing to eat the scraps that fell from the Rich man’s table.  Both died!  The “Hedonistic rich man”, found himself cast into the fiery abyss, no relief and no escape! His eternal destiny of damnation resulted from embracing the god “Hedonism” which blinded him from seeing Jesus present in the poor!

3. ATHEISM.   The denial that God exists.  A rapid growing “non-religion”, often generated by materialism and hedonism. Why?   If money, pleasure, comfort, are all at finger-tips and I am not plagued with problems,  I need no God!  Modern politics, education, economics tend to blot God out as an archaic relic of the past!   “There are no atheists in foxholes!” Sometimes the Good Lord, in His infinite love and divine providence, sends excruciating pain and suddenly to rip off the blinders from atheistic eyes!  Remember Sept 11, 2001!  For a week after, the churches– catholic, protestant, and others– were packed! God knows how to deal with doubters!

4. MORAL RELATIVISM.   Pontius Pilate cried out to Jesus: “What is the truth?” When in deed, “The Truth” stood 60 inches from his nose!  Today, many, far too many, have fallen into the quicksand of “Moral Relativism”.     That is to say, they state that there is no such thing as “Absolute Truth.”  Rather, truth is subject to change.   As the Greek philosopher Herodotus asserted, “All is in a state of perpetual flux.”   Also  termed “Situation Ethics”, “Cafeteria Catholicism”— pick and choose what you want to be the truth.  The reigning Pontiff, Pope Benedict XVI,  coined an immortal phrase, summing it all up with these words:  “The Dictatorship of moral relativism”.  To overcome this pernicious, poisonous and lethal philosophy, one simple remedy: humility and obedience!  We must humbly submit to the Holy Father and his teaching because it is the Holy Spirit that speaks through the Pope.

5.  EXAGGERATED PROLIFERATION OF HUMAN SEXUALITY.    Bombardment from every corner of the indecent, impure image, t.v., magazine, Internet, movies—to live a life of purity is indeed a major challenge!  The woman has become, for all too many, an object to be exploited, rather than a person to be respected, honored and loved in the Lord.  Pope John Paul II in his “Theology of the Body” clearly enunciates this error!  Either the woman is treated as a mere object to be lusted after, exploited, and used and then discarded, or she will be respected, honored, cherished and loved as created in the image  and likeness of God, as temple of the Trinity!  Our saving grace?  Knowledge, devotion, love, and imitation for Mary the Mother of God.  Mary is the “Masterpiece of Creation” and as “Mother and Teacher” will instruct us gently but firmly in the beauty of our creation, our purpose in life and our eternal destiny– to contemplate the Beatific vision of God.   May Our Lady, Virgin most pure,  attain for us the grace to live out the Beatitude: “Blessed are the pure of heart, they will see God.” (Mt 5:8)

St. Teresa of Avila reveals the secret to deep union in prayer:contemplate the HUMANITY OF CHRIST.  On one occasion, St. Catherine of Siena was privileged to contemplate merely the “Hand” of Christ, which catapulted, the “Doctor of the Church” into ecstasy. Viewing more, she would have died of love!  Why not contemplate the “Hands of Jesus the Lord”!

1. HANDS OF JESUS IN THE HANDS OF MARY.  A very tender and moving contemplation is viewing Jesus as a Baby in the arms of Mary.  But, focusing on Mary gently, with great tenderness, which is characteristic of a mother, holding the hands of Jesus. Our Lady of Perpetual Help is holding the baby Jesus in her arms, His sandal is unlaced and falling, and He is grasping the hand of Mary.  That “Baby Jesus” in the arms of Mary is you and me and we are invited to grasp and cling to the hand of Mary.

2. CALLOUSED, SOILED, HARDENED HANDS OF JESUS THE CARPENTER.  As a youth Jesus worked long, hard, tiring hours in the carpenter shop, side by side with S. Joseph. Nailing pieces of wood, sawing and adjusting, sanding down to level, lifting heavy pieces of wood– all of this hard work would have resulted in hardened, calloused, soiled hands.  These “Sacred-work-hands” teach us the value of hard work and that we should be using our hands to build the Kingdom of God and save souls!

3. HANDS OF JESUS EMBRACING AND BLESSING CHILDREN.  Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Unless you become like a child, you cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” BLESSINGS!  These Sacred Hands want to bless you, your children and all of your family.  May Dads/fathers impart Jesus’ blessing on their children every night before retiring.

4. HANDS OF JESUS TOUCHING THE EYES OF THE BLIND.  Jesus is the “Light of the world” who came to cast out darkness and the prince of this world– that is to say, to conquer sin and expel the devil!  Ask the hands of Jesus to touch your eyes so that you can see Him more clearly every day in the Word of God, the Persons you meet, circumstances of your life and in the “Bread of Life.”

5. HANDS OF JESUS TOUCHING THE “UNTOUCHABLES”: THE LEPERS!
In Jesus’ time, the outcasts of society, considered the scum of the earth, were the lepers. Sores all over the body, spreading from one part to the other, emitting a foul smell, highly contagious– signs of leprosy–  was viewed in the worldly perspective  as a chastisement from God.  So severe was the suffering that they had to live in colonies separated from society and cry out “Impure” when others approached them.  Totally counter-cultural, full of love and compassion, and breaking all rules of etiquette and protocol— (because of His great love)— Jesus would actually touch the leper. However, instead of contracting the highly contagious disease, Jesus would heal it instantaneously!  My friends, welcome to the “Leper club”! We are all lepers from conception and birth, due to Original Sin and actual sin. Good News!  There is a “Doctor” in the House. Jesus, with His hands, wants to touch you and heal you, through His gentle but powerful “Touch” in the Sacrament of Confession! Jesus, touch my leprosy and heal me!

6. HANDS OF JESUS CALMING THE STORM.   The storm descended violently upon the Lake of Galilee, and the Apostles were in the boat.  Petrified with fear, they called Jesus who was asleep.  (The only time we find Jesus asleep in the whole of the Gospels is in the midst of the storm on the lake!!!! Lesson for us in trust!)  Totally in control of nature and the storm, Jesus arises, stretches out His hands and cries out: “Be calm!” The storm immediately subsided and a total calm followed!   In the interior storms of our life, we should call Jesus, invite Him into the boat of our life and beg Him to lift His powerful hands to calm the tempest! Jesus is just as powerful today, as He was 2000 years. His power (or lack of it) is in proportion to our faith. “Lord, I believe, but strengthen my faith.”

7. HANDS OF JESUS RAISING THE DEAD.    A twelve year old girl died. Jesus was called and He entered the room and took the little girl by the hand.  Jesus'” Sacred and Healing Hand” lifted the girl, bringing her from death to life.  “Talitha Cum!”  Little girl, arise!  Immediately she rose from the dead, walked around the room and her parents were astonished.  Jesus’ Hands still can raise the dead from their tomb, if we truly believe.  Jesus came to bring Life and life in abundance!

8. HANDS  OF JESUS BLESSING BREAD AND BREAKING IT!
This simple but profound gesture has transformed the universe because with this Jesus promised to be with us until the end of time.   “I will be with you until the end of the world.” (Mt 28).   But how is Jesus going to remain with us until the end of the world? Quite simply in the Church,  in the  Sacraments, but in  the most powerful way in His   “Real Presence” in the Eucharist.   Both at the Last Supper and in the small cottage in Emmaus, Jesus did the same with His Sacred Hands.  “He took bread, blessed the bread, broke the bread and gave the bread… All these gestures were accomplished by His Sacred Hands!

9.  HANDS OF JESUS EXTENDED AND NAILED TO THE CROSS.   Our meditation/contemplation would be far from complete, if we were to omit the most loving gesture of Jesus on earth: His death for us on the cross!  Jesus stretched out His Sacred Hands on the wood of the cross and allowed them to be brutally pierced with nails.  The hammer, the nails, the pounding, the blood gushing forth— all from these Sacred Hands that blessed the children, opened the eyes of the blind, cleansed the lepers, raised the dead,  grasped the hands of Mary.  How much we should adore the Sacred Humanity of Jesus by contemplating these blood-stained hands.

10. DIVINE MERCY AND THE HANDS OF JESUS.  In the well-known image of Divine Mercy, the Risen Jesus stands, dressed in a white robe, head surrounded by light,  gentle and loving face inspiring confidence.  Furthermore,  Jesus with His right hand extended, He blesses the world; with His left hand pointing to His pierced Sacred Heart, two rays flow like a stream of grace, one red, the other a lighter color.    Both bring us back to the Passion, Good Friday, when the soldier with His lance pierced the Heart of Jesus. The “red” symbolizes the Eucharist; the lighter color, both Baptism and Confession.  His Sacred Hands point to the very symbol of His love for all of humanity: His Sacred Heart, pierced with a lance.

May the Sacred Hands of Jesus extend over you, your family, your household, and all who you are, and all that you  will do. May these Sacred Hands, that you have meditated upon bless you with the most abundant graces. May we walk hand in hand with Jesus and Mary through this life, valley of tears, until we meet in heaven!