Friday, April 30, 2010

Everything is God's Gift to You

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me." John 14:1


Sometimes, the sight of our ever changing world can cause us to have feelings of doubt, or even despair. We tend to focus on the negative around us and soon our attitudes and our speech follows suit; much like a domino effect.

It is in times like these that we need to stop, look around and realize all the things we have to be grateful for. A spirit of gratitude brings peace to the soul and joy to the heart!

“Dear children! I am calling you to a complete surrender to God. Let everything that you possess be in the hands of God. Only in that way shall you have joy in your heart. Little children, rejoice in everything that you have. Give thanks to God because everything is God's gift to you. That way in your life you shall be able to give thanks for everything and discover God in everything even in the smallest flower. Thank you for having responded to my call. ” BVM Medjugorje 4-25-1989 

Lord, may the spirit of gratitude bloom within my heart. Amen

Friday, April 23, 2010

How Many Times

“A light from the sky suddenly flashed around him.” He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”….”I am Jesus, whom your are persecuting.” ( From Acts 9:1-20)




How many times Lord have I persecuted you without thinking?

Perhaps it was in the grudge that I held against a brother or sister, a co-worker, a neighbor or a spouse; the sin of pride can run so deep.

Perhaps it was the negative thought about another that I shared with someone else, leading them into the pit of sin with me.

Perhaps it was the time that I did not speak out the truth, but instead took the wide road of comfort, choosing to be liked rather than despised by those around me.

Lord, as you sent Ananias to Saul to lay hands on him that he would regain his sight,

Send your spirit to me that the scales may fall from my eyes and I may regain my sight.

“My Son suffers very much because men do not want to be reconciled. They have not listened to me. Be converted. Be reconciled.” Message from the BVM 10-15-83

Praise the Lord, all you nations; glorify him, all you peoples.
For steadfast is his kindness toward us, and the fidelity of the Lord endures forever. Psalm 117

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

May Love Flow From Your Heart

Christ has no body now on earth but yours,

no hands but yours,

no feet but yours,

yours are the eyes through which Christ's compassion

is to look out to the earth,

yours are the feet by which He is to go about doing good

and yours are the hands by which He is to bless us now.

St Teresa of Avila


"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'

But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. (Matthew 5: 43-45)

"Dear Children! This time also I am inviting you to prayer. Pray that you might be able to comprehend what God desires to tell you through my presence and through the messages I am giving you. I desire to draw you ever closer to Jesus and to His wounded heart that you might be able to comprehend the immeasurable love which gave itself for each one of you. Therefore, dear children, pray that from your heart would flow a fountain of love to every person both to the one who hates you and to the one who despises you. That way you will be able through Jesus' love to overcome all the misery in this world of sorrows, which is without hope for those who do not know Jesus. I am with you and I love you with the immeasurable love of Jesus. Thank you for all your sacrifices and prayers. Pray so I might be able to help you still more. Your prayers are necessary to me. Thank you for having responded to my call." BVM 11-25-91 Monthly Message, Medjugore


May the love and mercy of our risen Lord  Jesus Christ flow from our hearts today touching all those we come in contact with, even to the most difficult.  In His Name, Amen.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Children, have you caught anything?



Jesus said to them, "Children, have you caught anything to eat?" They answered him, "No."

So he said to them, "Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something." So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish. (John 21:5-6)

Hearing our Savior refer to the disciples as children brings to mind thoughts of my parents. They are always loving, supportive, nurturing and available whenever I need them. Their love is unconditional and no matter how old I am I will always be their child. I guess I would say that they are my first experience of God’s great love for me; and this thought fills me with joy and expectation of what is yet to come.


Few things make my parents happier that to be able to cook for me, and like a parent, Jesus said to them, "Come, have breakfast." (John 21:12) And he shares with them the intimacy of a meal. Tonight, we gathered together, grandparents, grandchildren, children and siblings, together in prayer, sharing a meal, sharing the grace of the gift of family, sharing the love of God.

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs."


He then said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep."


He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." (Jesus) said to him, "Feed my sheep. (John 21: 15-17)

Like a parent knows his or her child, the Lord knows everything about us; he knows that we love him and he asks us to pass that love on to those we meet, to be builders of the faith, fishers of men.

“Children, have you caught anything...”….. "Follow me.”


Like Peter, may we all be strong witnesses to the faith we received through the
life, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, and may we forever praise the glory of his name. Amen

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

One Heart and Mind

Let us shout out our joy and happiness, and give glory to God, the Lord of all, because he is our King, alleluia. (Rv 19:7, 6)


The community of believers was of one heart and mind,
and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own,
but they had everything in common.
With great power the Apostles bore witness
to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus,
and great favor was accorded them all. (Acts 4: 32, 33)


The early Christians lived out the message of Jesus Christ not just in word, but in deed.In joy and humility they shared all they had and no one was in need of anything. They were living witnesses to the faith


Mother Mary,

Please intercede that the light of the Risen Lord makes us like you-joyful witnesses of the Gospel and full of hope.

"Dear children! Also today I desire to call you all to be strong in prayer and in the moments when trials attack you. Live your Christian vocation in joy and humility and witness to everyone. I am with you and I carry you all before my Son Jesus, and He will be your strength and support. Thank you for having responded to my call." BVM March 25, 2010 Message, Medjugorje

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Embrace Me

As if shaken from my sleep
I woke with a start.

The darkness around me was all I could see.

The deafening silence called out my name,
As if it was playing with me.

My heart started pounding slowly at first,
Then faster and faster it ran.

Instinctively I felt all around me
Until the beads found their way to my hand.

Tightly I clutched on to them at first,
Like a child clings hold of her mother.


Then the comforting presence embraced me
Leaving no room for the fear of another.

Blessed Alan de la Roche, who restored the devotion of the Rosary, use to be horribly persecuted by devils and sometimes deep sadness and despair would fall upon him. But our Lady always comforted him by her presence, which banished the clouds of darkness from his soul. 1

1 St. Louis de Montfort’s True Devotion Consecration to Mary, by Fr. Helmuts Libietis


Oh Holy Mother, comfort us by your presence as we meditate on the mysteries of the most Holy Rosary, the life, death and resurrection of your son, Jesus.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Finding the True Presence



Today you have a hard time finding Jesus. But if you can find that lit lamp in the church, then you know where the Lord is. That light indicates that in that tabernacle is the Love of All Love-Infinite Love. You can’t love unless you get close to love. You can’t have a fire unless you get close to a fire. You can’t be warm unless you’re near the heat. We have to know that we are loved by a God who is real and present.

~ Mother Angelica




How many times have you drawn near to walk with me my Lord

And I have not recognized you;

How many times have I been slow of heart, debating your truth,

Looking for an easier path to follow?

But you O Lord are always faithful,

And in your great mercy you have never abandoned me;

Your presence is always before me, comforting, consoling and nourishing me.

Like Peter and John, you call me to your table

And in the breaking of the bread,

I am with you and You are with me.


Strengthen me in faith O Lord,

That I may bring that faith to others.


In Your Name I Pray

Friday, April 2, 2010

The Crucifixion



The Fifth Sorrowful Mystery


And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Lk 23:34)

When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold your son!” (Jn 19:26) 3:34)

Then Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. (Lk 23:46)


You commended Your spirit to the Father and died on the cross after You had taken the cup given to You by the Father, because You were ready to accept it.

My Jesus, thank You for having done all this for us. Do teach us to love and to forgive. Strengthen all those who, for the lack of their own love, cannot forgive and destroy each other in hatred. Help us all to accept the Father’s will as You did, because it is the only way to salvation. We pray to You also for the dying; give them strength to commend their spirit to the Father in peace. Take them into Your peace, O Lord Jesus. 1

“Dear children! Today, in a special way, I invite you to take the cross in the hands and to meditate on the wounds of Jesus. Ask of Jesus to heal your wounds, which you, dear children, during your life sustained because of your sins or the sins of your parents. Only in this way, dear children, you will understand that the world is in need of healing of faith in God the Creator. By Jesus' passion and death on the cross, you will understand that only through prayer you, too, can become true apostles of faith; when, in simplicity and prayer, you live faith which is a gift. Thank you for having responded to my call. ” BVM Monthly Message, March 25, 1997

 
1Fr. Slavko Barbaric, O.F.M., Pray With the Heart

Thursday, April 1, 2010

The Carrying of the Cross


  The Fourth Sorrowful Mystery


"And he said to all: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself …" (Luke 9:23)


This post was shared by my mother
 a true woman of virtue.

Oh Loving Jesus, meek Lamb of God, I miserable sinner, salute and worship the most Sacred Wound of thy Shoulder on which Thou didst bear thy heavy Cross, which so tore Thy flesh and laid bear Thy Bones as to inflict on Thee an anguish greater than any other wound of thy Most Blessed Body. I adore Thee, O Jesus most sorrowful; I praise and glorify Thee, and give Thee thanks for this most sacred and painful Wound, beseeching Thee by that exceeding pain, and by the crushing burden of Thy heavy Cross to be merciful to me, a sinner, to forgive me all my mortal and venial sins, and to lead me on towards Heaven along the Way of Thy Cross. Amen 1

1 Thomas D. Beven , Bishop of Springfield


We all carry many crosses. When I was five years old my father died. He was only thirty three years old. It was during World War II and my mother remarried. He was a Marine who had fought bravely in five major battles. The war had left him wounded inside and he was never able to talk about it.

When my mother was dating him he was nice to my brothers and I, but when they got married things changed. Where our home had been a home full of music and joy, it was now dark and lonely place.

My one brother David could not cope with this and at the age of eleven years started running away. He was deeply gifted. He could play almost any instrument and had a lovely voice. To support himself he started playing at bars at an early age. He also started drinking and this became his way of life. He joined the service for about three years and married, had two girls, got a mental discharge from the service and started running again.

He ended up in later years as a sick alcoholic living in a rented room with no friends. He was always telling me he would like to join the Catholic Church but I was afraid with his drinking, to bring a priest by.

Late one night my husband and I got a call from the hospital that my brother had had a massive heart attack and was in a coma and had only hours to live. We prayed for him and were led to bring holy water with us. When we got to the hospital and entered his room he was still in a coma, but we prayed for him and baptized him. He died two hours later.

He had left me a note in his possessions that he wanted to be buried at National Cemetery in Riverside and to read the Prodigal Son at his service. There were only four of us who went to his burial. When we arrived we where met by at least twelve fully uniformed military men. They led us like in a parade to his grave sight. They then proceeded to have a twenty one gun salute, folding of the flag and a full service. When they left I read the Prodigal Son in full tears of joy as I know my brother had carried his cross in his own way and Our Loving Father had showed His merciful love and taken him home.