Fr. Ed Broom, OMV Oblates of the Virgin Mary

Catholic Ignatian Marian Spirituality

REJOICE IN THE LORD: 10 REASONS FOR REJOICING!

St. Paul in his letter to the Phillipians exhorts us to rejoice in the Lord: “I say to you rejoice,rejoice in the Lord…”(Phil 4:4)  In Mary’s hymn of praise, the Magnificat, the Mother of God’s Immaculate Heart resound praising God with these words:  “My heart rejoices in God my Savior…(Lk. 1:47)   True joy can only be found in God.  Indeed, only God is the ultimate source of joy in this life and in eternity. Therefore, we offer 10 clear reasons for true rejoicing.  I invite you to read and give thanks to God!

1. GOD CREATED YOU OUT OF LOVE!   This mere thought should lift your heart in hymns of joy. His love for you is eternal and immutable!

2. PRAYER!  At all times and places I can talk to this God who loves me so much. Actually, God anxiously awaits for me to talk to Him even now. Praise, thank and love God now for a few moments!

3. GUARDIAN ANGEL.  Right now, beside you is a good friend— your Guardian Angel. He is there to encourage you on your journey to heaven. Rejoice!  You are never alone!

4. DIGNITY. Through Baptism you have been transformed into a son/daughter of God. You call God your “Father” and He truly is. Rejoice in your exalted dignity. However, strive to live up to that standard!

5. DESTINY. GOAL CLEAR!  You know where you came from and know where you are heading:  HEAVEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  You know for certain that after patiently carrying your cross in this brief pilgrimage of life, God has a place prepared for you in heaven!

6. MERCY. Even though you may fall a million times a day, you know that your loving Father has his arms open to forgive you, love you and receive you into his embrace.  Remember the parable of the Prodigal Son.  (Lk 15).

7. BEST OF FRIENDS.  In heaven are the saints, but they are your best of friends.  Right now talk to three of your best friends— the saints in heaven.  There presence and prayer will fill you with joy.  They are praying for you and waiting for you in heaven!

8. TABERNACLE FRIEND.  An even better friend than the saints is waiting for your visit in the Tabernacle in His Real Presence. Talk to Him and He will fill you with joy.  Remember the words of the Psalmist:  “Look to the Lord and be radiant with joy!”

9. RECEIVE HIM.  Take one more step: go to Mass and receive Him with purity of heart, profound humility and burning charity and you heart will explode with joy.  Remember the disciples on the Road to Emmaus after listening to Jesus and meeting Him in the breaking of Bread.  They returned with their hearts filled with joy.   (Lk 24) Frequent, fervent, faith-filled Communions is a sure source of joy!

10. MARY.  Pray to Mary, love Mary, spread Marian devotion and she will fill you with joy. One of her titles in the Litany is “Cause of our joy.” 

In sum, may you be filled with joy.  “Rejoice in the Lord; I say it again: rejoice in the Lord!” (Phil. 4:4)

Father Ed Broom, OMV, is Associate Pastor of St. Peter Chanel Church in Hawaiian Gardens, California. He is a member of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary and was ordained by Saint John Paul II on May 25, 1986. Fr. Ed teaches Catholic Ignatian Marian Spirituality through articles, podcasts, a radio show, retreats and spiritual direction.

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OBEDIENCE

Jesus was obedient even unto death and death on the cross; He Himself said that love is measured by the rule of obedience.   “If you love me, keep my commandments.” Actually the fourth  commandment obliges us to obey our parents, but it goes beyond our mere parents. Who else must we obey???  The following is a list for your personal examination of conscience.

1. GOD!  First and foremost we should always obey God.  St Thomas More said that he was the King’s loyal subject, but first God’s!  He chose death to remain faithful to obedience to God’s commandments.

2. PARENTS!   Have children ever heard the voice of God?  Yes!  Every time their parents tell them to do something, then they hear the voice of God and should obey.   The Bible promises a blessing to obedient children.  They will have a long life on the land of the living.  (Ecclesiastes 3).

3. TEACHERS!  St Paul states clearly that all lawful authority comes from God!

4. CATECHISTS.   In the Ecclesial context, obedience should be manifested promptly and readily to the catechist, who has been chosen by God to impart religious knowledge!

5.  PRIESTS/CONFESSORS.  If one has chosen a good confessor and the confessor give an order then this order should be carried out willingly.  It is all so clear in the Diary of Divine Mercy that St Faustina was keenly aware of Jesus speaking through her priest-confessor.

6 SUPERIORS.   In Religious Life there are usually three (3) vows: Poverty, Chastity, and OBEDIENCE.  When a Superior commands a subject to carry out and order then this order should be obeyed because the Superior is the voice of God.

7. SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR.   Not only should one be submissive and obedient to one’s superior and confessor, but also to one’s SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR.   This truth also is clearly taught in the Diary of St Faustina.

8 THE HOLY FATHER THE POPE.  Of primary importance should we listen to, pray for and obey the Holy Father , the Pope, who St Catherine of Siena calls,  “The Sweet Vicar of Christ on earth.” If not, the consequence is the free fall into the “Dictatorship of Moral Relativism”.  There will be more than 6 million popes on earth, who will all claim to be in the right, resulting in total  confusion and chaos!   Be very attentive and humbly obedient to all the teachings of the Pope— It is Jesus speaking to you and He is  THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE!

9.  CONSCIENCE, WELL FORMED IN THE LIGHT OF THE WORD OF GOD AND THE MAGISTERIUM OF THE CHURCH. We all must obey our conscience. However, with this stipulation!  It must be properly formed by knowledge of the Bible and the Bible must be interpreted by the Pope and the Magisterium with him.   Parents must form the consciences of their children under this light and perspective!

10. OBEY INSPIRATIONS!   This is more subtle!   The Holy Spirit blows where He wills.  This is where it is important that one have adequate Spiritual Direction, know his moral and mystical theology and have a magnanimous heart. The Holy Spirit will always challenge us to give more (Ignatius “Magis) of ourselves.   May we be open to God’s holy inspirations and respond with the Immaculate Heart of Mary:  “Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me according to your word.”


Father Ed Broom, OMV, is Associate Pastor of St. Peter Chanel Church in Hawaiian Gardens, California. He is a member of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary and was ordained by Saint John Paul II on May 25, 1986. Fr. Ed teaches Catholic Ignatian Marian Spirituality through articles, podcasts, a radio show, retreats and spiritual direction.

 

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WORK: THE POSITIVE FRUITS

Has anyone every asked you this question:  “Are you working hard or are you hardly working?”

Hopefully, you were quick on the the draw to respond:  “I am working hard!!!”  Hard and diligent work produces many positive fruits; here are some of them.


  1. PLEASES GOD!  Why?  Because He himself told us to work so as to earn our bread by the work and sweat of our brow. (Gen 3).
  2. EARN OUR KEEP!   St Paul states clearly to the Thessalonians:  “He who does not work, should not eat.”   You want to eat?  Then work hard!
  3. DEVIL TO FLIGHT!   When we do not work, St Bonaventure says, we are surrounded by an army of devils.  Whereas, at work, we put the devils to flight! Drugs, porn, alcoholism, gang activity— all of these are related to a lack of a work plan!
  4. CHARITY AND SERVICE.   By working well you are serving others: your community, your family, the church and the whole world!
  5. JOY AND SATISFACTION.  Hard work and work well-done is a reward in and of itself! Joy results!   We should add to our work joy.  God loves a joyful giver.
  6. GOOD EXAMPLE!   If your work hard, honestly and methodically  you are giving good example to others.  All of us are called to be shining light of good example to others. Jesus says, “Let your light shine before others so as to give glory to your Father in heaven. (Mt 5)
  7. TALENTS DEVELOPED.  The God-given talents are cultivated.  This is pleasing to God.
  8. OVERCOME THE CAPITAL SIN OF SLOTH/LAZINESS.   Remember the Parable of the Talents. (Mt 25). Two of the workers were hard-working and dedicated. The last was lazy and threw his talent in the ground.  We want to be the hard and industrious workers.
  9. JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH.   We follow in the footsteps of our three best models: Jesus, Mary, and St. Joseph.  All of theme worked hard to serve others and please the Heavenly Father.
  10. SALVATION.  St Paul says that we should “Work out” our salvation in fear and trembling.   Remember the immortal words of  St Father Alberto Hurtado S.J. (Chilean priest and saint).  “There are two places to rest:  “The cemetery and heaven.”  My friends, let us work hard now  and rest forever in heaven with the saints, the angels, with Mary and with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen


Father Ed Broom, OMV, is Associate Pastor of St. Peter Chanel Church in Hawaiian Gardens, California. He is a member of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary and was ordained by Saint John Paul II on May 25, 1986. Fr. Ed teaches Catholic Ignatian Marian Spirituality through articles, podcasts, a radio show, retreats and spiritual direction.

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OUR LADY OF SORROWS


OUR LADY OF SORROWS: MARY’S 7 SORROWS– short reflection.


  1. PROPHECY OF SIMEON….  “A sword will pierce your heart so that the thoughts of many will be lain bare….   By devotion to Mary she gives us the courage to recognize our sins and to confess them to the priest and receive pardon. Marian sanctuaries are “Spiritual clinics of healing” from sin.
  2. FLIGHT INTO EGYPT.  Mary helps us through her prayers to take flight from any near occasion of sin— be it a person, place or thing…
  3. FINDING IN THE TEMPLE.   May Mary grant us the grace to never lose Jesus in the temple of our hearts through mortal sin. If, we do, may she help us to return to Jesus through repentance and confession.
  4. JESUS MEETS MARY ON THE WAY OF THE CROSS.   In our tribulations and trials, Mary is there to support us.
  5. JESUS DIES ON THE CROSS….MARY CONTEMPLATES.   May Mary attain for us the grace of a holy and happy death.   “Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen
  6. JESUS’ DEAD BODY IS LAIN IN THE ARMS OF MARY.   May Mary attain for us the grace to receive Jesus in Holy Communion with faith, fervour and frequency!  (The 3 “F’s)
  7. JESUS TAKEN FROM THE ARMS OF MARY AND BURIED. May we die in the arms of Mary, so that her arms like an spiritual elevator, will take us to the Sacred Heart of her Son in heaven.


Those who meditate upon the sorrows of Mary and try to console her sorrowful and Immaculate Heart will receive many special graces.


Father Ed Broom, OMV, is Associate Pastor of St. Peter Chanel Church in Hawaiian Gardens, California. He is a member of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary and was ordained by Saint John Paul II on May 25, 1986. Fr. Ed teaches Catholic Ignatian Marian Spirituality through articles, podcasts, a radio show, retreats and spiritual direction.

 

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MARIAN DEVOTION

  1. ROSARY.   The family that prays together stays together.  (Fr Patrick Peyton)
  2. ANGELUS.  Pray the Angelus three times a day: morning, noon, and evening. A great way to sanctify the day through this beautiful Marian prayer.
  3. SCAPULAR.  Wear the garment of Mary; stay under her mantle of protection.
  4. GOLDEN HAIL MARY.  Pray the “Hail Mary” slowly and reflectively.
  5. MARIAN FEAST DAYS.  Get to know them
  6. COMMUNION. Receive Holy Communion on Mary’s feast days to honor her and her Son, Jesus the Lord.
  7. TRUE DEVOTION TO MARY.  Consecrate your whole being to Jesus through the Immaculate Heart of Mary
  8. IMITATION.  Strive always to  imitate Jesus and Mary– the best way to live.
  9. TEMPTATIONS.  Oblate motto;  “Maria cogita, Maria invoca”  (Latin)  Think of Mary and invoke Mary.
  10. DEATH.  Like Jesus and the saints to die in the arms of Mary.


Father Ed Broom, OMV, is Associate Pastor of St. Peter Chanel Church in Hawaiian Gardens, California. He is a member of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary and was ordained by Saint John Paul II on May 25, 1986. Fr. Ed teaches Catholic Ignatian Marian Spirituality through articles, podcasts, a radio show, retreats and spiritual direction.

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