St Peter’s grievous fall had wounded Jesus more than all his other injuries. “And the Lord, turning, looked on Peter.” (Lk 22:61) It was a glance of mingled reproach and mercy, which instantly wrought his conversion.
Daily Jesus shows this same goodness towards numerous poor sinners. He looks mercifully on them as he did with the penitent King David when he cried out, “Look thou upon me, and have mercy on me” (Ps 51:1).
Terror had so completely possessed St Peter and blinded him to the extent of his sin. Jesus came to his rescue, and opened his eyes. Henceforth, his gratitude was fervent and constant. If we recall our past sins, we will know how often grace has roused us from the sleep of death. Deep, then, ought to be our gratitude.
“Peter remembered the words Jesus had said: ‘Before the cock crows twice, thou shalt thrice deny me.’” (Mk 14:72; Mt 26:75) One look from Jesus wrought a sudden and wonderful change in the heart of the faithless disciple. In an instant the darkness which surrounded his soul disappeared. He saw clearly the gravity of his sin.
He remembered all his Master’s forewarnings at the last Supper and in the Garden of Olives. His heart was filled, not with despair, but with deepest contrition. He was transformed into the model of a true penitent.
Grace indeed works wonders! Silently, it penetrates the soul, strengthens; and shows it the instability of creatures, the horror of sin, filling it with a deep, salutary contrition. It makes the sinner shed tears of grief, love, and joy; purifies the soul from unruly affections; disengages it from the world and draws it towards God.
“And going forth, he wept bitterly.” (Lk 22:62) The fall of St Peter had been grievous and public. His repentance was generous and fervent. Immediately, he fled from the place and the company which had occasioned his fall. Alone, he began to shed those bitter tears which may be said never ceased till his death.
He mourned over the humiliation of his fall, the thought of his ingratitude, the grief and pain he had given at the very moment his Divine Master was manifesting his love for him. Not only did our Lord pardon his penitent disciple, but gave back all the privileges which had been granted him before his fall.
If we, like St Peter, have been unfaithful, let us imitate him in his repentance. Recalling our past ingratitude and of God’s goodness to us, should inspire us with deeper humility, more steadfast trust, and an unlimited generosity in works of charity. Thus, with God’s grace, we shall be able to bring good out of evil.
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp115-7
Conversion Is, Above All, Acceptance
“Return to me ... I will return to you.” (Zech 1:3)
Here is another invocation from the Lenten liturgy, introducing us to the whole reality of conversion. We convert to God, who awaits us. He awaits in order to turn to us, ‘to convert’ us. We journey toward God, He desires to come to meet us. Let us open up to God, who desires to open to us.
Conversion is not a one-way process, unilateral ... Being converted means believing in God who loved us first, who has loved us eternally in His Son; and through His Son gives us grace and truth in the Holy Spirit. That Son was crucified, so as to speak to us with His arms spread as widely as God is open to us. How incessantly God ‘converts to us’, through the Cross of His Son!
Our conversion is in this way not a unilateral aspiration at all. It is not only an effort on the part of the human will, understanding and heart. It is not only a commitment to directing our humanity upwards, when it so heavily tends downwards.
‘Conversion is’ above all, ‘acceptance’. It is the effort to accept God in all the wealth of his ‘conversion’ (‘convertar’: ‘I shall be converted’) to man. This conversion is a Grace.
An effort of understanding, of heart and of will, is also indispensable for accepting Grace. It is indispensable for not losing the Divine dimension of life in the human dimension; for persevering in it.
Ref: cf Pope John Paul II, “Prayers and Devotions”, 1994, p132
The malice of venial sin
The effort of personal conversion which the Lord asks of us is an action for each day of our lives. However, in certain situations, as in Lent, we receive special graces which we must avail of. Lent is an extraordinary opportunity for a maximum struggle against sin and to increase in ourselves the life of grace with good works.
To understand better the malice of sin we must recall what Jesus Christ suffered for our sins. “We can very well say that the Passion which the Jews made Christ suffer was almost nothing compared with what Christians make him undergo with their insults of mortal sins ... what horror there will be when [he] shows us the things for which we have abandoned him!” (St Jean Vianney [The ‘Curé d’Ars’], “Sermon on Sin”)
Our Lord has called us to holiness, to love with deeds. How we regard deliberate venial sin will determine our progress in interior life. Failure to struggle against venial sins or if contrition for them is not enough, grievously damaged the soul. Lukewarmness sets in.
These venial sins make the soul insensitive to the inspirations and motions of the Holy Spirit. Practise of the virtues becomes more difficult. Furthermore, venial sins weaken the life of grace, and incline one towards mortal sin. “How sad you make me feel when you are not sorry for your venial sins! For until you are, you will not begin to live a real interior life.” (Dom Benedict Baur, “In Silence with God”)
Let us ask Our Lady to grant us a loathing not only for mortal sin, but also for deliberate venial sin.
Ref: cf Francis Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:103-5
Our Lady -- “To Jesus we always go, and to him we always return, through Mary.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 495)
“Have confidence: Return. Invoke our Lady and you’ll be faithful.” (Ibid, Op cit, 514)
In the year 911, the city of Chartres was miraculously delivered from the siege laid to it by Rollo or Raoul, Duke of the Normans; for as he was on the point of taking the city, Gaucelin, the forty-seventh Bishop of Chartres, mounted on the top of the ramparts, holding a relic of Our Lady as an ensign, “which struck such terror in the enemy’s camp, that all retreated in disorder”; in memory of this fact, the meadows of the Drouaise gate are called, to this day, the meadows of the Repulsed ('des Recules') — Sebastien Rouillard, Parthenie, c. 7, n. 5. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
Our Lady of the Underground. Chartres, France. 911.(http://www/divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
Our Lady of the Underground (‘Notre-Dame de Sous Terre’; Our Lady of the Crypt). One of three venerated statues of Mary in Chartres cathedral, in a subterranean chapel. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
14 March 2010: St Peter’s threefold denial
“Now when Peter was in the court below, there came one of the maid-servants of the high priest, and when she had seen Peter warming himself, stared at him and said, ‘You also were with Jesus of Nazareth’. But he denied it, saying, ‘Woman, I do not know him’.” (Lk 22:58)
Peter, having recovered from his terror in the garden, followed Jesus but stayed afar. Earlier he had boasted of his steadfast fidelity. His weakness truly great, grievous indeed was his fall. St Peter’s fall shows us the weakness of human nature, and makes us tremble. Every effect has a cause.
The Fathers give four reasons for his fall-- 1) he was presumptuous of his own strength; 2) he had neglected prayer and vigil with his Master; 3) he was rash in exposing himself to temptation; and 4) he indulged tepidity and idle curiosity. Our past falls and false steps can easily be traced to one or other of these causes.
“And again he denied with an oath: ‘I know not the man’.” (Mt 26:72) As the danger increased, St Peter’s fear grew stronger, and he fell lower still. His first denial had been a cowardly falsehood; but his second was a perjury. His sins came fast and became more and more deadly. Correcting one mistake with another?
Once we yield to our passions, human respect, gluttony, curiosity, anger, sensuality, or any other sin, we shall soon drift farther. We must not say, ‘I will do what I wish for this once, and then I shall be at rest’; or, ‘I will go thus far in what is wrong, but no farther’. The passions are like fire which never says, ‘It is enough’. St Augustine, speaking from experience, said so.
“... after one hour, one of the servants said to him, ‘Did I not see you in the garden with him? Surely you also are one of them?’ But he began to curse and swear, saying, ‘I know not this man of whom you speak’.” (cf Mk 14:71)
The Apostle’s fearsome fall was rapid. In less than two hours he thrice denied his Lord. Twice he perjured himself; and finally confirmed his false-swearing by a fearful curse on himself. What shame and grief he gave to his Master’s heart who, that very instant standing nearby, was enduring cruel insults for love of him!
Why did our Lord permit him, who was to become the head of the Church, to fall so low? And why was it recorded in the Gospel for the whole world to know? The Fathers give three reasons --
1) so that St Peter and his successors, the chief pastors of the Church, should excel in humility, and have a deep sympathy for the weakness of their people; 2) so that the world, perceiving the weak foundation the Catholic Church is built on, should recognize that it is indeed the work of God, not of men, and that its existence is a wonder and a marvel; and 3) as a warning to men, that, no matter to what height of sanctity they have attained, they are still very weak, and need continuing divine grace.
Let us exalt the wisdom of Divine Providence!
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp112-5)
The Return to the Father’s House
Lent is the time for a particularly loving meeting on our Father’s part with each and every one of us, so that even the most prodigal son may still take account of the waste he has perpetrated, call his sin by its name, and finally make his way with complete sincerity back to God, to the Father’s house. The way is through ‘examination of conscience, repentance, and resolve to improve; need for confession’ arises in him.
Our reconciliation with God, the return to the Father’s house, is accomplished through Christ. His suffering and death on the cross stand between every human conscience, every human sin, and the Father’s boundless Love. Such Love is prompt to raise and pardon; nothing else than Mercy. In personal conversion, in repentance, in firm resolve to reform, and finally in confession, each of us agrees to perform a personal spiritual labor.
This labor is an extension and prolonged reverberation of the labor of salvation which our Redeemer undertook. As the Apostle of reconciliation with God said: “For your sakes God made him who did not know sin, to be sin, so that in him we might become the very holiness of God.” (2 Cor 5:21)
So let us undertake our labor of conversion and penitence for Him, with Him and in Him. Unless we undertake it, we are not worthy of the name of Christ; we are not worthy of the inheritance of the Redemption.
Ref: cf Pope John Paul II, “Prayers and Devotions”, 1994, p137
Begin again after every failure
Our failures, often unforeseen, can usually lead to progress in our interior life. That is, if we react to them with humility and a firmer determination to follow Our Lord. Perseverance does not consist in never falling down, but in always getting up again every time we do. Very often we will hear the Holy Spirit say: ‘Make a new start with deeper humility ...’
“When a soldier in battle is wounded or has to give ground a little, no one is so demanding or so ignorant of military matters as to think this is a crime. Only those who do not fight are never wounded; those who charge the enemy with the greatest spirit are the ones who receive the most blows.” (cf St John Chrysostom, “Second Exhortation to Theodore”, 5)
Let us ask Our Lady for the grace never to abandon our interior struggle, however depressing or even catastrophic our previous experience may have been; and for the grace and the humility always to begin again. Let us also ask her that we may always persevere in our apostolate, even if it seems to produce no fruit.
One day, perhaps when we shall have arrived in heaven, Our Lord will show us the fruits of that apostolate and how, although at times it seemed to be useless, was in fact always effective. The seed which is sown always brings forth grain: “some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty” (Mt 13:8) ... much grain from one seed.
Ref: cf Francis Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 1:92-3
THE SEVEN SUNDAYS DEVOTION TO ST. JOSEPH -- Honors the seven joys and seven sorrows of St Joseph. (“Handbook of Prayers”, Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias [Eds], 1988, pp321-3)
“What must Joseph have been, how grace must have worked through him, that he should be able to fulfill this task of the human upbringing of the Son of God.
“For Jesus must have resembled Joseph: in his way of working, in the features of his character, in his way of speaking. Jesus’ realism, his eye for detail, the way he sat at table and broke bread, his preference for using everyday situations to give doctrine -- all this reflects his childhood and the influence of Joseph.
“It’s not possible to ignore this sublime mystery: Jesus who is man, who speaks with the accent of a particular district of Israel, who resembles a carpenter called Joseph, is the Son of God.”
Ref: St Josemaria Escrivà, “In Joseph’s Workshop” in “Christ is passing by”, 40
The seventh sorrow and joy of St Joseph -- His sorrow when he lost the child Jesus; his joy in finding him in the temple.
“They were overcome when they saw him and his mother said to him, ‘Child, why have you done this to us? See how worried your father and I have been, looking for you’.” (Lk 2:43)
“Get to know Joseph and you will find Jesus. Talk to Joseph and you will find Mary, who always sheds peace about her in that attractive workshop in Nazareth.”
Ref: St Josemaria Escrivà, “In Joseph’s Workshop”, 56
Our Lady de la Breche, at Chartres, where a procession takes place every year, in thanksgiving for Our Lady’s having delivered the city, when besieged by heretics, in the year 1568. It was during this siege that not a cannon or musket ball fired by the besiegers at the image of Our Lady, placed upon the Drouaise gate, struck it although the marks of them are still seen two or three inches from it. — Sebastien Rouillard, Parthenie, o. 3. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)
Our Lady of the Breach (Notre Dame de la Breche). Chartres, France. 1568. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (http://www/divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
Our Lady Of Kostrama (Russia) (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
Peter, having recovered from his terror in the garden, followed Jesus but stayed afar. Earlier he had boasted of his steadfast fidelity. His weakness truly great, grievous indeed was his fall. St Peter’s fall shows us the weakness of human nature, and makes us tremble. Every effect has a cause.
The Fathers give four reasons for his fall-- 1) he was presumptuous of his own strength; 2) he had neglected prayer and vigil with his Master; 3) he was rash in exposing himself to temptation; and 4) he indulged tepidity and idle curiosity. Our past falls and false steps can easily be traced to one or other of these causes.
“And again he denied with an oath: ‘I know not the man’.” (Mt 26:72) As the danger increased, St Peter’s fear grew stronger, and he fell lower still. His first denial had been a cowardly falsehood; but his second was a perjury. His sins came fast and became more and more deadly. Correcting one mistake with another?
Once we yield to our passions, human respect, gluttony, curiosity, anger, sensuality, or any other sin, we shall soon drift farther. We must not say, ‘I will do what I wish for this once, and then I shall be at rest’; or, ‘I will go thus far in what is wrong, but no farther’. The passions are like fire which never says, ‘It is enough’. St Augustine, speaking from experience, said so.
“... after one hour, one of the servants said to him, ‘Did I not see you in the garden with him? Surely you also are one of them?’ But he began to curse and swear, saying, ‘I know not this man of whom you speak’.” (cf Mk 14:71)
The Apostle’s fearsome fall was rapid. In less than two hours he thrice denied his Lord. Twice he perjured himself; and finally confirmed his false-swearing by a fearful curse on himself. What shame and grief he gave to his Master’s heart who, that very instant standing nearby, was enduring cruel insults for love of him!
Why did our Lord permit him, who was to become the head of the Church, to fall so low? And why was it recorded in the Gospel for the whole world to know? The Fathers give three reasons --
1) so that St Peter and his successors, the chief pastors of the Church, should excel in humility, and have a deep sympathy for the weakness of their people; 2) so that the world, perceiving the weak foundation the Catholic Church is built on, should recognize that it is indeed the work of God, not of men, and that its existence is a wonder and a marvel; and 3) as a warning to men, that, no matter to what height of sanctity they have attained, they are still very weak, and need continuing divine grace.
Let us exalt the wisdom of Divine Providence!
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp112-5)
The Return to the Father’s House
Lent is the time for a particularly loving meeting on our Father’s part with each and every one of us, so that even the most prodigal son may still take account of the waste he has perpetrated, call his sin by its name, and finally make his way with complete sincerity back to God, to the Father’s house. The way is through ‘examination of conscience, repentance, and resolve to improve; need for confession’ arises in him.
Our reconciliation with God, the return to the Father’s house, is accomplished through Christ. His suffering and death on the cross stand between every human conscience, every human sin, and the Father’s boundless Love. Such Love is prompt to raise and pardon; nothing else than Mercy. In personal conversion, in repentance, in firm resolve to reform, and finally in confession, each of us agrees to perform a personal spiritual labor.
This labor is an extension and prolonged reverberation of the labor of salvation which our Redeemer undertook. As the Apostle of reconciliation with God said: “For your sakes God made him who did not know sin, to be sin, so that in him we might become the very holiness of God.” (2 Cor 5:21)
So let us undertake our labor of conversion and penitence for Him, with Him and in Him. Unless we undertake it, we are not worthy of the name of Christ; we are not worthy of the inheritance of the Redemption.
Ref: cf Pope John Paul II, “Prayers and Devotions”, 1994, p137
Begin again after every failure
Our failures, often unforeseen, can usually lead to progress in our interior life. That is, if we react to them with humility and a firmer determination to follow Our Lord. Perseverance does not consist in never falling down, but in always getting up again every time we do. Very often we will hear the Holy Spirit say: ‘Make a new start with deeper humility ...’
“When a soldier in battle is wounded or has to give ground a little, no one is so demanding or so ignorant of military matters as to think this is a crime. Only those who do not fight are never wounded; those who charge the enemy with the greatest spirit are the ones who receive the most blows.” (cf St John Chrysostom, “Second Exhortation to Theodore”, 5)
Let us ask Our Lady for the grace never to abandon our interior struggle, however depressing or even catastrophic our previous experience may have been; and for the grace and the humility always to begin again. Let us also ask her that we may always persevere in our apostolate, even if it seems to produce no fruit.
One day, perhaps when we shall have arrived in heaven, Our Lord will show us the fruits of that apostolate and how, although at times it seemed to be useless, was in fact always effective. The seed which is sown always brings forth grain: “some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty” (Mt 13:8) ... much grain from one seed.
Ref: cf Francis Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 1:92-3
THE SEVEN SUNDAYS DEVOTION TO ST. JOSEPH -- Honors the seven joys and seven sorrows of St Joseph. (“Handbook of Prayers”, Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias [Eds], 1988, pp321-3)
“What must Joseph have been, how grace must have worked through him, that he should be able to fulfill this task of the human upbringing of the Son of God.
“For Jesus must have resembled Joseph: in his way of working, in the features of his character, in his way of speaking. Jesus’ realism, his eye for detail, the way he sat at table and broke bread, his preference for using everyday situations to give doctrine -- all this reflects his childhood and the influence of Joseph.
“It’s not possible to ignore this sublime mystery: Jesus who is man, who speaks with the accent of a particular district of Israel, who resembles a carpenter called Joseph, is the Son of God.”
Ref: St Josemaria Escrivà, “In Joseph’s Workshop” in “Christ is passing by”, 40
The seventh sorrow and joy of St Joseph -- His sorrow when he lost the child Jesus; his joy in finding him in the temple.
“They were overcome when they saw him and his mother said to him, ‘Child, why have you done this to us? See how worried your father and I have been, looking for you’.” (Lk 2:43)
“Get to know Joseph and you will find Jesus. Talk to Joseph and you will find Mary, who always sheds peace about her in that attractive workshop in Nazareth.”
Ref: St Josemaria Escrivà, “In Joseph’s Workshop”, 56
Our Lady de la Breche, at Chartres, where a procession takes place every year, in thanksgiving for Our Lady’s having delivered the city, when besieged by heretics, in the year 1568. It was during this siege that not a cannon or musket ball fired by the besiegers at the image of Our Lady, placed upon the Drouaise gate, struck it although the marks of them are still seen two or three inches from it. — Sebastien Rouillard, Parthenie, o. 3. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)
Our Lady of the Breach (Notre Dame de la Breche). Chartres, France. 1568. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (http://www/divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
Our Lady Of Kostrama (Russia) (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
Friday, March 12, 2010
13 March 2010: Jesus mocked by the soldiers and servants of Caiphas
Caiphas, triumphant at having condemned Jesus, retired for the day. He left his captive to the insolence of his servants and soldiers who immediately dragged him into an underground prison for criminals. The hatred they knew their masters had for Jesus fired them up. They tried to outdo one another in ridicule, scorn, blasphemy, curses on him.
This horror lasted all night. Try to imagine our Lord’s suffering and humiliation; and our difficulties will be nothing. The days we spent among vulgar, ungrateful, and ill-tempered people will be less unbearable.
“Then did they spit on his face.” (Mt 27:30) If this were not in the Gospel, we could not believe that men could be so brutal and cruel. Or that God-made-man could have allowed and borne such an insult. But our Lord allowed it repeatedly, silently, as Isaiah had prophesied: ‘I have not turned away my face from them that spat upon me.’
And yet men often complain and long to take revenge when injured even if they deserve it. We ought to fall at the feet of Jesus and cry out with St Bernard, ‘What, shall my Master and King be insulted and spat upon by his vilest subjects, and shall I be honored, who have deserved for my sins to be cast with the refuse of the human race to the bottom of hell? No, never! Let me rather be forgotten and despised, that I may obtain mercy in eternity.’
In grief and silence we will contemplate the King of Glory seated on a block of wood -- blindfolded, hands bound, surrounded by coarse, half-intoxicated men, who alternately strike him on the face and cry out, “Prophesy, who is it that struck thee?” (Mk 14:65; Mt 26:58)
When we meditate on the three degrees of humility [read 5 September], we resolve that we be despised and thought nothing of by the world with our Master, rather than be esteemed and highly exalted before men.
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp110-111
On serving others
It is impossible to practise charity without humility and a spirit of service. There can be no effectiveness. Without humility there is no holiness. Jesus does not want conceited self-centered friends in his service: “... the instruments of God are always humble.” (St John Chrysostom, "Homilies on St Matthew", 15)
When we strive to be humble we become effective and strong. We must be ever vigilant, because the worst kind of ambition is to seek one’s own exaltation. ‘Pride attacks on all flanks and its victim finds it all around.’
Unless we are humble we become unfit for helping others, for pride infects everything. Where there is a proud person nothing goes right; nobody is treated properly: family, friends, colleagues. He expects and demands special treatment for himself because he considers himself different. He can be over-sensitive.
The dogmatic tone of his words, his ironic or sarcastic opinions in any discussion, his tendency to cut short conversations are all signs of a deep-seated egoism. The limited horizons of his life are centered on himself.
Humility on the other hand makes us recognize our weaknesses and defects. We are then able to understand the shortcomings of others, and lend a helping hand. We can love and accept them, defects and all.
The Blessed Virgin, ‘handmaid of the Lord’, will teach us that to serve others is among the ways of finding joy in this life and one of the shortest routes to Jesus.
Ref: cf Francis Fernandez, "In Conversation with God", 2:79-84
The Guiding Influence of the Holy Spirit
A correct understanding of the teaching of Jesus makes us react in a creative and co-operative fashion to the challenges that face us in life, without fear of acting mistakenly and alone, but under the guiding influence of his own Holy Spirit at every moment, in every circumstance, great or small.
This extraordinary divine assistance is guaranteed to all who offer their lives to Jesus. God the Father’s plan of salvation embraces all mankind; his one same Holy Spirit is sent as gift to all who are open to receive him in faith. We each form a part of God’s overall plan.
‘An exclusively personal and private attitude to salvation is not Christian’ and is born of a fundamentally mistaken mentality. Consequently, your lives cannot be lived in isolation, and even ‘in deciding your future you must always keep in mind your responsibility’ as a Christian towards others.
There is no place in your lives for apathy or indifference to the world around you. Selfishness has no place in the Church. You must show a conscientious concern that the standards of society fit the plan of God.
Christ counts on you, so the effects of his Holy Spirit may radiate from you to others, and thus permeate every aspect of public and private sectors of national life. To each person the Spirit’s manifestation is given for the common good. (1 Cor 12:7)
Do not let the sight of the world in turmoil shake your confidence in Jesus. Not even the threat of nuclear war. Follow the example of Our Blessed Lady, the perfect model of trust in God and wholehearted cooperation in his divine plan for salvation of mankind.
Keep in mind the advice she gave servants at Cana: “Do whatever he [Jesus] tells you.” (Jn 2:5) Jesus changed the water into wine for his Mother on that occasion. Through her intercession he will transform your lives.
Ref: cf Pope John Paul II, “Prayers and Devotions”, 1994, pp215-6
Our Lady
Love our Lady. And she will obtain abundant grace to help you conquer in your daily struggle. And the enemy will gain nothing by those perversities that seem to boil up continually within you, trying to engulf in their fragrant corruption the high ideals, those sublime commands that Christ himself has placed in your heart. ‘Serviam!’ -- “I will serve!” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 493)
Our Lady of the Empress, at Rome. A tradition records that this image spoke to St Gregory the Great in the year 593. — Antonius Yepez, ad ann. 84, divi Benedicti. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com); (http://www/divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html);
(www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
This horror lasted all night. Try to imagine our Lord’s suffering and humiliation; and our difficulties will be nothing. The days we spent among vulgar, ungrateful, and ill-tempered people will be less unbearable.
“Then did they spit on his face.” (Mt 27:30) If this were not in the Gospel, we could not believe that men could be so brutal and cruel. Or that God-made-man could have allowed and borne such an insult. But our Lord allowed it repeatedly, silently, as Isaiah had prophesied: ‘I have not turned away my face from them that spat upon me.’
And yet men often complain and long to take revenge when injured even if they deserve it. We ought to fall at the feet of Jesus and cry out with St Bernard, ‘What, shall my Master and King be insulted and spat upon by his vilest subjects, and shall I be honored, who have deserved for my sins to be cast with the refuse of the human race to the bottom of hell? No, never! Let me rather be forgotten and despised, that I may obtain mercy in eternity.’
In grief and silence we will contemplate the King of Glory seated on a block of wood -- blindfolded, hands bound, surrounded by coarse, half-intoxicated men, who alternately strike him on the face and cry out, “Prophesy, who is it that struck thee?” (Mk 14:65; Mt 26:58)
When we meditate on the three degrees of humility [read 5 September], we resolve that we be despised and thought nothing of by the world with our Master, rather than be esteemed and highly exalted before men.
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp110-111
On serving others
It is impossible to practise charity without humility and a spirit of service. There can be no effectiveness. Without humility there is no holiness. Jesus does not want conceited self-centered friends in his service: “... the instruments of God are always humble.” (St John Chrysostom, "Homilies on St Matthew", 15)
When we strive to be humble we become effective and strong. We must be ever vigilant, because the worst kind of ambition is to seek one’s own exaltation. ‘Pride attacks on all flanks and its victim finds it all around.’
Unless we are humble we become unfit for helping others, for pride infects everything. Where there is a proud person nothing goes right; nobody is treated properly: family, friends, colleagues. He expects and demands special treatment for himself because he considers himself different. He can be over-sensitive.
The dogmatic tone of his words, his ironic or sarcastic opinions in any discussion, his tendency to cut short conversations are all signs of a deep-seated egoism. The limited horizons of his life are centered on himself.
Humility on the other hand makes us recognize our weaknesses and defects. We are then able to understand the shortcomings of others, and lend a helping hand. We can love and accept them, defects and all.
The Blessed Virgin, ‘handmaid of the Lord’, will teach us that to serve others is among the ways of finding joy in this life and one of the shortest routes to Jesus.
Ref: cf Francis Fernandez, "In Conversation with God", 2:79-84
The Guiding Influence of the Holy Spirit
A correct understanding of the teaching of Jesus makes us react in a creative and co-operative fashion to the challenges that face us in life, without fear of acting mistakenly and alone, but under the guiding influence of his own Holy Spirit at every moment, in every circumstance, great or small.
This extraordinary divine assistance is guaranteed to all who offer their lives to Jesus. God the Father’s plan of salvation embraces all mankind; his one same Holy Spirit is sent as gift to all who are open to receive him in faith. We each form a part of God’s overall plan.
‘An exclusively personal and private attitude to salvation is not Christian’ and is born of a fundamentally mistaken mentality. Consequently, your lives cannot be lived in isolation, and even ‘in deciding your future you must always keep in mind your responsibility’ as a Christian towards others.
There is no place in your lives for apathy or indifference to the world around you. Selfishness has no place in the Church. You must show a conscientious concern that the standards of society fit the plan of God.
Christ counts on you, so the effects of his Holy Spirit may radiate from you to others, and thus permeate every aspect of public and private sectors of national life. To each person the Spirit’s manifestation is given for the common good. (1 Cor 12:7)
Do not let the sight of the world in turmoil shake your confidence in Jesus. Not even the threat of nuclear war. Follow the example of Our Blessed Lady, the perfect model of trust in God and wholehearted cooperation in his divine plan for salvation of mankind.
Keep in mind the advice she gave servants at Cana: “Do whatever he [Jesus] tells you.” (Jn 2:5) Jesus changed the water into wine for his Mother on that occasion. Through her intercession he will transform your lives.
Ref: cf Pope John Paul II, “Prayers and Devotions”, 1994, pp215-6
Our Lady
Love our Lady. And she will obtain abundant grace to help you conquer in your daily struggle. And the enemy will gain nothing by those perversities that seem to boil up continually within you, trying to engulf in their fragrant corruption the high ideals, those sublime commands that Christ himself has placed in your heart. ‘Serviam!’ -- “I will serve!” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 493)
Our Lady of the Empress, at Rome. A tradition records that this image spoke to St Gregory the Great in the year 593. — Antonius Yepez, ad ann. 84, divi Benedicti. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com); (http://www/divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html);
(www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
Thursday, March 11, 2010
12 March 2010: Motives for penance-- On evil which sin has wrought
Recall the past. Quickly review the commandments of God and the Church, the obligations of our commitments, assignments that have been confided to us. How would we see our sins if we saw these sins as God sees them?
For a single mortal sin, Adam and his posterity were condemned to death. For one venial sin, three great friends of God, Moses, David, and Ezechias, were severely punished.
I have committed so many sins and have forgotten them. What could I expect? God forgets nothing; will leave nothing unpunished, even the fault of an ‘idle word’. We have many motives, then, for real and continual penance. In this time of Lent we shall receive special graces which will make it easier.
Each mortal sin is a threefold injury to God. Its malice is infinite because his Majesty is infinite. By ‘insubordination’ and ‘rebellion’: God commands, we do not obey. By ‘contempt’: we prefer a fleeting and vile enjoyment, often disgraceful to God and His laws. By ‘ingratitude’: we use his very gifts to offend and insult him.
Each venial sin is also a threefold injury; a slighter kind certainly. Still its malice is great. The praises of all humanity could not relieve the injury to God by one venial sin. And our past sins contained such malice. Faith and reason teach us that this malice is proportional to the grace we have received.
This thought ought to overwhelm me with shame -- the times in my life when, in union with the cruel Jews, I cried out, “Let him be crucified!” (Lk 23:21); and, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” (Lk 23:18) Not this man, but my passion. There have been times when, in union with the murderers, I ran the nails into my Saviour’s hands and feet.
I have done this every time I committed a mortal sin. And for every venial sin, I have added fresh suffering to the open wounds of Jesus.
Thoughts like these armed the holy penitents of the desert against themselves. Let us imitate them during these holy days of universal penance and expiation.
Ref: cf Practical Meditations by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp108-9
Getting involved in the lives of others
People who witness our behaviour may say: ‘What right do you have to interfere in the lives of others? Who gave you permission to talk about Christ, his doctrine, his sweet demands?’ We may even wonder: Who’s asking me to get involved? Our ‘reply would be’ --
"Christ himself is telling me, is begging me." "The harvest is plentiful enough, but the labourers are few. You must ask the Lord to whom the harvest belongs to send labourers out for the harvesting." (Mt 9:37-8) Don’t take the easy way out. Don’t say, "I’m no good at this sort of thing; there are others who can do it; it isn’t my line.” (cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “Friends of God”, 272)
The Church encourages, and in fact requires, us to make Christ known. “Young people should become the first to carry on the apostolate directly to other young persons, concentrating their apostolic efforts within their own circle ... Children also have their own work to do. According to their ability, they are true living witnesses of Christ among their companions.” (Second Vatican Council, “Apostolicam Actuositatem”, 12)
Everybody: young, old, sick, jobless or successful -- all of us must be apostles (‘sent’) to make Christ known by word and deed. God tells us: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel.” (cf Mk 16:15) God sends us!
Love for Christ leads us to love those around us. Our vocation impels us to think of others, not to fear sacrifices which mean love with deeds. The intensity of this will is a gauge of our sincerity and commitment.
If at any time we feel no concern for souls, then our charity had grown cold. If their estrangement from God left us unmoved and their spiritual needs did not provoke a reaction in our own soul, indeed we are apathetic. The apostolate is not an adjunct to the normal activity of the Christian. It is the Christian life itself.
Ref: cf Francis Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 3:454-5
Who Is My Neighbor?
Do you remember? Was it not with the parable of the 'Good Samaritan' that Jesus answered a question put by a doctor of the Law? The doctor had just quoted the Law: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.” (Lk 10:27)
The 'Good Samaritan' is Christ. It is he who comes to us first, making us his neighbor, to succor us, heal us, save us. But if there be still some distance between God and us, that depends only on us, on the obstacles which we put up against such rapprochement.
The sin in our hearts, the injustices we commit, the hatred and divisions which we nourish -- all these things cause us not to love God yet with all our souls, with all our strength. The season of Lent is the privileged time for purification and penitence, for letting the Lord make us his neighbor and save us with his love.
The second commandment is like the first (cf Mt 22:39) and forms one whole with it. We must love others with the same love which God pours into our hearts and with which he himself loves us. Here, too, what obstacles stand in the way of making the other our neighbor: we do not love God and our brethren enough.
Why still so many difficulties, raised against leaving the important but insufficient stage of reflections, declarations and professions, to become emigrants with emigrants, refugees with refugees, poor with those lacking everything?
Ref: cf Pope John Paul II, “Prayers and Devotions”, 1994, pp146-7
Indulgenced Aspirations to the Blessed Virgin
1) ‘Mary.’ 2) ‘Mary, Virgin Mother of God, pray to Jesus for me.’ 3) ‘Mary our hope, have pity on us.’ 4) ‘Holy Mary, deliver us from the pains of hell.’
Ref: Very Rev Charles J Callan, OP, STM and Very Rev John A McHugh, OP, STM, “Blessed Be God”, 1925, p436
Our Lady of Miracles, in the cloister of St Maur des Fosses, near Paris. It is said that this image was found made when the sculptor, named, Rumold, was about to begin it. — Du Breuil, Theatre des Antiquites, lib. iv. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com); (http://www/divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm) (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
For a single mortal sin, Adam and his posterity were condemned to death. For one venial sin, three great friends of God, Moses, David, and Ezechias, were severely punished.
I have committed so many sins and have forgotten them. What could I expect? God forgets nothing; will leave nothing unpunished, even the fault of an ‘idle word’. We have many motives, then, for real and continual penance. In this time of Lent we shall receive special graces which will make it easier.
Each mortal sin is a threefold injury to God. Its malice is infinite because his Majesty is infinite. By ‘insubordination’ and ‘rebellion’: God commands, we do not obey. By ‘contempt’: we prefer a fleeting and vile enjoyment, often disgraceful to God and His laws. By ‘ingratitude’: we use his very gifts to offend and insult him.
Each venial sin is also a threefold injury; a slighter kind certainly. Still its malice is great. The praises of all humanity could not relieve the injury to God by one venial sin. And our past sins contained such malice. Faith and reason teach us that this malice is proportional to the grace we have received.
This thought ought to overwhelm me with shame -- the times in my life when, in union with the cruel Jews, I cried out, “Let him be crucified!” (Lk 23:21); and, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” (Lk 23:18) Not this man, but my passion. There have been times when, in union with the murderers, I ran the nails into my Saviour’s hands and feet.
I have done this every time I committed a mortal sin. And for every venial sin, I have added fresh suffering to the open wounds of Jesus.
Thoughts like these armed the holy penitents of the desert against themselves. Let us imitate them during these holy days of universal penance and expiation.
Ref: cf Practical Meditations by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp108-9
Getting involved in the lives of others
People who witness our behaviour may say: ‘What right do you have to interfere in the lives of others? Who gave you permission to talk about Christ, his doctrine, his sweet demands?’ We may even wonder: Who’s asking me to get involved? Our ‘reply would be’ --
"Christ himself is telling me, is begging me." "The harvest is plentiful enough, but the labourers are few. You must ask the Lord to whom the harvest belongs to send labourers out for the harvesting." (Mt 9:37-8) Don’t take the easy way out. Don’t say, "I’m no good at this sort of thing; there are others who can do it; it isn’t my line.” (cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “Friends of God”, 272)
The Church encourages, and in fact requires, us to make Christ known. “Young people should become the first to carry on the apostolate directly to other young persons, concentrating their apostolic efforts within their own circle ... Children also have their own work to do. According to their ability, they are true living witnesses of Christ among their companions.” (Second Vatican Council, “Apostolicam Actuositatem”, 12)
Everybody: young, old, sick, jobless or successful -- all of us must be apostles (‘sent’) to make Christ known by word and deed. God tells us: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel.” (cf Mk 16:15) God sends us!
Love for Christ leads us to love those around us. Our vocation impels us to think of others, not to fear sacrifices which mean love with deeds. The intensity of this will is a gauge of our sincerity and commitment.
If at any time we feel no concern for souls, then our charity had grown cold. If their estrangement from God left us unmoved and their spiritual needs did not provoke a reaction in our own soul, indeed we are apathetic. The apostolate is not an adjunct to the normal activity of the Christian. It is the Christian life itself.
Ref: cf Francis Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 3:454-5
Who Is My Neighbor?
Do you remember? Was it not with the parable of the 'Good Samaritan' that Jesus answered a question put by a doctor of the Law? The doctor had just quoted the Law: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.” (Lk 10:27)
The 'Good Samaritan' is Christ. It is he who comes to us first, making us his neighbor, to succor us, heal us, save us. But if there be still some distance between God and us, that depends only on us, on the obstacles which we put up against such rapprochement.
The sin in our hearts, the injustices we commit, the hatred and divisions which we nourish -- all these things cause us not to love God yet with all our souls, with all our strength. The season of Lent is the privileged time for purification and penitence, for letting the Lord make us his neighbor and save us with his love.
The second commandment is like the first (cf Mt 22:39) and forms one whole with it. We must love others with the same love which God pours into our hearts and with which he himself loves us. Here, too, what obstacles stand in the way of making the other our neighbor: we do not love God and our brethren enough.
Why still so many difficulties, raised against leaving the important but insufficient stage of reflections, declarations and professions, to become emigrants with emigrants, refugees with refugees, poor with those lacking everything?
Ref: cf Pope John Paul II, “Prayers and Devotions”, 1994, pp146-7
Indulgenced Aspirations to the Blessed Virgin
1) ‘Mary.’ 2) ‘Mary, Virgin Mother of God, pray to Jesus for me.’ 3) ‘Mary our hope, have pity on us.’ 4) ‘Holy Mary, deliver us from the pains of hell.’
Ref: Very Rev Charles J Callan, OP, STM and Very Rev John A McHugh, OP, STM, “Blessed Be God”, 1925, p436
Our Lady of Miracles, in the cloister of St Maur des Fosses, near Paris. It is said that this image was found made when the sculptor, named, Rumold, was about to begin it. — Du Breuil, Theatre des Antiquites, lib. iv. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com); (http://www/divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm) (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
11 March 2010: Jesus condemned as a blasphemer
“The high priest tore his clothes, and said, ‘He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses?’”(Mt 26:65) How detestable was the hypocrisy of Caiphas and his party! Under an appearance of piety and zeal, they masked their mortal hatred of our Lord and their long-conceived plan of putting him to death.
They sought a flimsy excuse for their conduct so as not to enrage the people. Caiphas thought he could find one by begging Jesus to say if he is ‘really’ the Son of God. If Jesus said ‘no’, he can condemn him as an impostor since the people believe him to be God. If he said 'yes', Caiphas would sentence him as a blasphemer. He would then make people believe he was overwhelmed with horror at the sin. The wicked can be very ingenious!
“What is your verdict? They answered, ‘He deserves death’.” (Mt 26:66) The judges who pronounced this sentence were men inflamed with hatred because Jesus had righteously confessed the truth.
In this world, the crafty often calumniate and oppress the innocent. God permits this for wise and merciful reasons. In this instance, Caiphas was the instrument by which Jesus should sacrifice his life in reparation to his Father for the sins of mankind. The wicked death sentence opened to us all the gates of eternal life.
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp106-7
Be Artisans of the Charity of Christ
“Those who believed were together and shared all things in common; they would sell their property and goods, distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.” (cf Acts 2:44-5)
Our relationships with our neighbor are of capital importance. ‘Neighbor’ obviously means those who live beside us, in the family, neighborhood; in the town or village, in the city. Also those we work with, those who are suffering, are sick, know loneliness, are really poor.
My neighbor is all those who are geographically quite distant, or who are exiled from their own countries, lack food and clothing, often lack liberty.
My neighbor is all those unfortunates who have been completely or almost ruined by unforseeable and dramatic catastrophes, which have thrown them into physical and moral want, often enough also into the sadness of losing their dearest ones. ...
‘Sharing’ is a duty which no one of goodwill, above all no disciple of Christ, can evade.
Ref: cf Pope John Paul II, “Prayers and Devotions”, 1994, pp148-9
Interior life is expressed in deeds
The Christian’s interior life, if genuine, is accompanied by fruits, practical deeds of service to others. “The danger of deeds done without interior life has been emphasized, but we should also underline the danger of an interior life, if such could exist, without deeds.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Letter”, 6 May 1945, 44) We must live by faith and use whatever available means always.
We cannot wait for the ideal moment, which might never come, to start doing apostolate. We must not wait for everything to be just right in order to work for God. Our present actions should show the love in our heart. God will multiply and bless our efforts, puny though they may be, in answer to his demands. And we will be filled with gratitude and admiration.
If our interior life is genuine, our conversation with God in prayer and the Sacraments should continually overflow in works of mercy (catechism classes, advice to the ill-informed, visiting the sick or aged, etc.) and in deeds of apostolate. Interior life which is not expressed in deeds fades away and dies.
As our intimacy with Christ increases, it is logical that our work, our character, our readiness to undergo sacrifice will all improve. So also will our way of dealing with others, aided by the virtues of social harmony -- understanding, cordiality, optimism, order, friendliness. Love to survive and grow, must express itself in deeds.
Ref: cf Francis Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 3:447-8
Activism
Interior life means living with God’s vision, seeing our apostolic task from his viewpoint. Apostolic fruit cannot be lasting when a Christian falls prey to ‘activism’, the tendency to be ‘doing things’, to rush around, without the support of a deep prayer life. In the end, the furious activity is sterile and ineffective, clear sign of a lack of rectitude of intention.
A purely human activity without any supernatural context could be the consequence of ambition, a desire to attract attention. There is the danger of ‘activism’ -- of multipying deeds which, though good ‘per se’, have no interior life to support them. St Bernard and many others called such works “accursed occupations”. (cf J D Chautard, “The Soul of the Apostolate”, p69)
But the lack of real fruit in our apostolate can arise also from ‘passivity’, when deeds of love are absent. And if activism is bad and sterile, passivity is deadly, for it can make us think that we love God because we perform works of piety. Such pious acts are done but not perfectly since they do not lead to good actions.
Genuine love of God is seen in an apostolate carried out with tenacity. And if our Lord were to find us passive, content to perform pious practices without the accompanying cheerful and constant apostolate, then perhaps he might say to us in our heart: ‘More deeds, please, and fewer excuses.’
Can we present the ripe fruit God is looking for, practical results attained by a willing spirit of sacrifice? He approaches us with a hunger and a thirst for souls. In spiritual direction we learn to distinguish between what could be activism (where we must pray more) and what could be lack of initiative (to ‘get moving’ more).
The Blessed Virgin Mary will teach us to act so that our interior life, our desire to love God, will never become a producer of worthless foliage like the fig tree.
Ref: cf Francis Fernandez, op cit, 448-451
Our Lady of the Forests at Porto, in Portugal. This image was found again in a forest where it had been hidden by Queen Matilda, wife of Alphonsus I. — Joannes Barrius, lib. de Rebus Interamnensibus, c. 12. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
Nossa Senhora das florestas / Our Lady of the Forests. (Porto, Portugal, 12th Century; Britain, 1419). (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (http://www/divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
Madonna da Costantinopoli Society. Bitritto (Bari). (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
They sought a flimsy excuse for their conduct so as not to enrage the people. Caiphas thought he could find one by begging Jesus to say if he is ‘really’ the Son of God. If Jesus said ‘no’, he can condemn him as an impostor since the people believe him to be God. If he said 'yes', Caiphas would sentence him as a blasphemer. He would then make people believe he was overwhelmed with horror at the sin. The wicked can be very ingenious!
“What is your verdict? They answered, ‘He deserves death’.” (Mt 26:66) The judges who pronounced this sentence were men inflamed with hatred because Jesus had righteously confessed the truth.
In this world, the crafty often calumniate and oppress the innocent. God permits this for wise and merciful reasons. In this instance, Caiphas was the instrument by which Jesus should sacrifice his life in reparation to his Father for the sins of mankind. The wicked death sentence opened to us all the gates of eternal life.
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp106-7
Be Artisans of the Charity of Christ
“Those who believed were together and shared all things in common; they would sell their property and goods, distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.” (cf Acts 2:44-5)
Our relationships with our neighbor are of capital importance. ‘Neighbor’ obviously means those who live beside us, in the family, neighborhood; in the town or village, in the city. Also those we work with, those who are suffering, are sick, know loneliness, are really poor.
My neighbor is all those who are geographically quite distant, or who are exiled from their own countries, lack food and clothing, often lack liberty.
My neighbor is all those unfortunates who have been completely or almost ruined by unforseeable and dramatic catastrophes, which have thrown them into physical and moral want, often enough also into the sadness of losing their dearest ones. ...
‘Sharing’ is a duty which no one of goodwill, above all no disciple of Christ, can evade.
Ref: cf Pope John Paul II, “Prayers and Devotions”, 1994, pp148-9
Interior life is expressed in deeds
The Christian’s interior life, if genuine, is accompanied by fruits, practical deeds of service to others. “The danger of deeds done without interior life has been emphasized, but we should also underline the danger of an interior life, if such could exist, without deeds.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Letter”, 6 May 1945, 44) We must live by faith and use whatever available means always.
We cannot wait for the ideal moment, which might never come, to start doing apostolate. We must not wait for everything to be just right in order to work for God. Our present actions should show the love in our heart. God will multiply and bless our efforts, puny though they may be, in answer to his demands. And we will be filled with gratitude and admiration.
If our interior life is genuine, our conversation with God in prayer and the Sacraments should continually overflow in works of mercy (catechism classes, advice to the ill-informed, visiting the sick or aged, etc.) and in deeds of apostolate. Interior life which is not expressed in deeds fades away and dies.
As our intimacy with Christ increases, it is logical that our work, our character, our readiness to undergo sacrifice will all improve. So also will our way of dealing with others, aided by the virtues of social harmony -- understanding, cordiality, optimism, order, friendliness. Love to survive and grow, must express itself in deeds.
Ref: cf Francis Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 3:447-8
Activism
Interior life means living with God’s vision, seeing our apostolic task from his viewpoint. Apostolic fruit cannot be lasting when a Christian falls prey to ‘activism’, the tendency to be ‘doing things’, to rush around, without the support of a deep prayer life. In the end, the furious activity is sterile and ineffective, clear sign of a lack of rectitude of intention.
A purely human activity without any supernatural context could be the consequence of ambition, a desire to attract attention. There is the danger of ‘activism’ -- of multipying deeds which, though good ‘per se’, have no interior life to support them. St Bernard and many others called such works “accursed occupations”. (cf J D Chautard, “The Soul of the Apostolate”, p69)
But the lack of real fruit in our apostolate can arise also from ‘passivity’, when deeds of love are absent. And if activism is bad and sterile, passivity is deadly, for it can make us think that we love God because we perform works of piety. Such pious acts are done but not perfectly since they do not lead to good actions.
Genuine love of God is seen in an apostolate carried out with tenacity. And if our Lord were to find us passive, content to perform pious practices without the accompanying cheerful and constant apostolate, then perhaps he might say to us in our heart: ‘More deeds, please, and fewer excuses.’
Can we present the ripe fruit God is looking for, practical results attained by a willing spirit of sacrifice? He approaches us with a hunger and a thirst for souls. In spiritual direction we learn to distinguish between what could be activism (where we must pray more) and what could be lack of initiative (to ‘get moving’ more).
The Blessed Virgin Mary will teach us to act so that our interior life, our desire to love God, will never become a producer of worthless foliage like the fig tree.
Ref: cf Francis Fernandez, op cit, 448-451
Our Lady of the Forests at Porto, in Portugal. This image was found again in a forest where it had been hidden by Queen Matilda, wife of Alphonsus I. — Joannes Barrius, lib. de Rebus Interamnensibus, c. 12. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
Nossa Senhora das florestas / Our Lady of the Forests. (Porto, Portugal, 12th Century; Britain, 1419). (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (http://www/divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
Madonna da Costantinopoli Society. Bitritto (Bari). (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
10 March 2010: Jesus accused and examined at the tribunal of Caiphas
“... the chief priests and the whole council sought false witnesses against Jesus, that they might put him to death; and they found none.” (Mt 26:59-60)
Our Lord’s life was so holy his sworn enemies, despite many witnesses against him, false ones included, could find nothing to accuse him of, not even the shadow of sin, or an imperfection. “The high priest stood up and said, ‘Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?’”(Mt 26:62) “But Jesus held his peace.” (Mk 14:61)
Wonderful indeed was this silence of our Lord. His honor, reputation, and life were in peril. He could so easily defend and acquit himself; but remained silent. He left his defence in the hands of his Father.
How different we are! Falsely accused, he was silent. We, who glory in being his disciples, cannot stand a reproof that we know we deserve, or a kind observation, without becoming defensive. Sometimes even at the expense of truth.
“The high priest said to him, ‘I put you under oath before the living God, tell us if you are Christ, the Son of the living God’." (Mt 26:63) “Jesus replied, ‘You have said so’.” (Mt 26:64)
Here is a valuable lesson -- as long as our Lord’s own person was concerned, he kept silence; but when it was a question of his Father’s glory, the salvation of souls, or a point of faith, he spoke, and confessed the truth freely though he knew it would cost him his life.
When to speak and when to be silent requires thought, a calm mind, and great firmness of character. Have we sometimes sacrificed truth by keeping silence?
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp104-5
Detachment and generosity
“You cannot serve God and mammon.” (Mt 6:24) Material goods can become chains which prevent our reaching out to Christ. And if we don’t get to him what is the purpose of our lives? “For us to reach God, Christ is the Way; but Christ is on the Cross, and to climb up to the Cross we must have our hearts free, not tied to earthly things.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, "The Way of the Cross", Tenth Station)
Christ led by example; and used earthly goods with perfect dominion over them and in the fullest freedom. “He became so poor that by his poverty you might become rich.” (2 Cor 8:9) A necessary condition to enable us to follow him is, “Whoever of you does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple” (Lk 14:33).
Material goods are good since they come from God, placed at man’s disposal since creation began, for his growth and development in society. We are administrators of these goods for a short term only. Everything should lead us to love God -- Creator and Father.
If we get too fond of creatures and we do not make effective acts of detachment from them, they are converted into evil. Whoever make riches the centre of their lives are excluded from heaven. True interior life and a loving relationship with God are incompatible with avarice which St Paul calls “idolatry” (Col 3:5).
Egoism and tepidity prevent one from seeing the needs of one’s neighbour. People are then treated as objects, to be picked up or dropped as one sees fit, of no value. How we use the riches God has endowed us with can win for us eternal life. Distributing these riches in acts of charity can help realize God’s kingdom on earth, now.
This detachment must be ‘effective’ with obvious results and obtained only by sacrifice. It must also be ‘natural and discriminating’, as befits Christians who live in the middle of the world using such goods as means of trade and apostolic work. Also, it must be ‘positive’ and ‘internal’ affecting one’s desires; and be done ‘cheerfully’.
Detachment is ‘born out of love’ for Christ; at the same time ‘makes it possible for this love to live and to grow’. Thus we need a constant vigil over interior order and cleanliness. The detachment required of one who wishes to follow Our Lord includes “a detachment from ourselves” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Friends of God”, 114) -- what others think of us, noble ambitions, professional success, even our health.
Ref: cf Francis Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:93-8
The World is Thirsty for Mercy
Man has deep need to meet with the mercy of God, today more than ever. To feel himself radically understood, in the weakness of his wounded nature, above all to have spiritual experience of that Love which receives, enlivens and resuscitates to new life. In acceptance of all poverty, spiritual and material, you desire to promote and favor such a meeting between modern man and the Lord’s goodness ...
Courage, dearest brethren. 'The world is thirsty', even without knowing it, 'for the Divine Mercy', and you are called to proffer this prodigious water, healing to soul and body. You venerate the Mother of Mercy under the particular title of "Mary Mediatrix". May she make you ever more conscious of her motherhood, "which endures without cease from the moment of the consent faithfully given to the Annunciation", and may she make you all apostles, workers and servers of the Divine Goodness and mercy. I accompany you with my blessing.
Ref: cf Pope John Paul II, “Prayers and Devotions”, 1994, pp105-6
Mary, Mother of Mercy
‘Hail Holy Queen, Mother of mercy ...’ For centuries people have invoked Mary under this title, and now in modern times, Pope John Paul II has presented it to us again to emphasize the unique role Mary plays in God’s eternal plan of mercy.
In his encyclical letter, ‘Rich in Mercy’, he devotes an entire section to Mary, the ‘Mother of Mercy'. She is the one, he explains, who has the deepest understanding of God’s mercy, the one who, more than anyone else, deserved and received mercy. Called in a special way to share her Son’s mission to reveal His Love, she continues to proclaim His mercy ‘from generation to generation’.
Ref: “Handbook of Devotion to the Divine Mercy”, 1995, p88
Our Lady of the Vine, near Viterbo, in Tuscany, a fine church occupied at present by Dominicans. — Bzovius, ad ann., 1487. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (http://www/divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
Our Lord’s life was so holy his sworn enemies, despite many witnesses against him, false ones included, could find nothing to accuse him of, not even the shadow of sin, or an imperfection. “The high priest stood up and said, ‘Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?’”(Mt 26:62) “But Jesus held his peace.” (Mk 14:61)
Wonderful indeed was this silence of our Lord. His honor, reputation, and life were in peril. He could so easily defend and acquit himself; but remained silent. He left his defence in the hands of his Father.
How different we are! Falsely accused, he was silent. We, who glory in being his disciples, cannot stand a reproof that we know we deserve, or a kind observation, without becoming defensive. Sometimes even at the expense of truth.
“The high priest said to him, ‘I put you under oath before the living God, tell us if you are Christ, the Son of the living God’." (Mt 26:63) “Jesus replied, ‘You have said so’.” (Mt 26:64)
Here is a valuable lesson -- as long as our Lord’s own person was concerned, he kept silence; but when it was a question of his Father’s glory, the salvation of souls, or a point of faith, he spoke, and confessed the truth freely though he knew it would cost him his life.
When to speak and when to be silent requires thought, a calm mind, and great firmness of character. Have we sometimes sacrificed truth by keeping silence?
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp104-5
Detachment and generosity
“You cannot serve God and mammon.” (Mt 6:24) Material goods can become chains which prevent our reaching out to Christ. And if we don’t get to him what is the purpose of our lives? “For us to reach God, Christ is the Way; but Christ is on the Cross, and to climb up to the Cross we must have our hearts free, not tied to earthly things.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, "The Way of the Cross", Tenth Station)
Christ led by example; and used earthly goods with perfect dominion over them and in the fullest freedom. “He became so poor that by his poverty you might become rich.” (2 Cor 8:9) A necessary condition to enable us to follow him is, “Whoever of you does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple” (Lk 14:33).
Material goods are good since they come from God, placed at man’s disposal since creation began, for his growth and development in society. We are administrators of these goods for a short term only. Everything should lead us to love God -- Creator and Father.
If we get too fond of creatures and we do not make effective acts of detachment from them, they are converted into evil. Whoever make riches the centre of their lives are excluded from heaven. True interior life and a loving relationship with God are incompatible with avarice which St Paul calls “idolatry” (Col 3:5).
Egoism and tepidity prevent one from seeing the needs of one’s neighbour. People are then treated as objects, to be picked up or dropped as one sees fit, of no value. How we use the riches God has endowed us with can win for us eternal life. Distributing these riches in acts of charity can help realize God’s kingdom on earth, now.
This detachment must be ‘effective’ with obvious results and obtained only by sacrifice. It must also be ‘natural and discriminating’, as befits Christians who live in the middle of the world using such goods as means of trade and apostolic work. Also, it must be ‘positive’ and ‘internal’ affecting one’s desires; and be done ‘cheerfully’.
Detachment is ‘born out of love’ for Christ; at the same time ‘makes it possible for this love to live and to grow’. Thus we need a constant vigil over interior order and cleanliness. The detachment required of one who wishes to follow Our Lord includes “a detachment from ourselves” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Friends of God”, 114) -- what others think of us, noble ambitions, professional success, even our health.
Ref: cf Francis Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:93-8
The World is Thirsty for Mercy
Man has deep need to meet with the mercy of God, today more than ever. To feel himself radically understood, in the weakness of his wounded nature, above all to have spiritual experience of that Love which receives, enlivens and resuscitates to new life. In acceptance of all poverty, spiritual and material, you desire to promote and favor such a meeting between modern man and the Lord’s goodness ...
Courage, dearest brethren. 'The world is thirsty', even without knowing it, 'for the Divine Mercy', and you are called to proffer this prodigious water, healing to soul and body. You venerate the Mother of Mercy under the particular title of "Mary Mediatrix". May she make you ever more conscious of her motherhood, "which endures without cease from the moment of the consent faithfully given to the Annunciation", and may she make you all apostles, workers and servers of the Divine Goodness and mercy. I accompany you with my blessing.
Ref: cf Pope John Paul II, “Prayers and Devotions”, 1994, pp105-6
Mary, Mother of Mercy
‘Hail Holy Queen, Mother of mercy ...’ For centuries people have invoked Mary under this title, and now in modern times, Pope John Paul II has presented it to us again to emphasize the unique role Mary plays in God’s eternal plan of mercy.
In his encyclical letter, ‘Rich in Mercy’, he devotes an entire section to Mary, the ‘Mother of Mercy'. She is the one, he explains, who has the deepest understanding of God’s mercy, the one who, more than anyone else, deserved and received mercy. Called in a special way to share her Son’s mission to reveal His Love, she continues to proclaim His mercy ‘from generation to generation’.
Ref: “Handbook of Devotion to the Divine Mercy”, 1995, p88
Our Lady of the Vine, near Viterbo, in Tuscany, a fine church occupied at present by Dominicans. — Bzovius, ad ann., 1487. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (http://www/divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
Monday, March 8, 2010
9 March 2010: Jesus led to the tribunal of Caiphas
“... they led him to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiphas who was high priest that year” (Jn 18:13); “and Annas sent him bound to Caiphas” (Jn 18:23), “where the scribes and elders were assembled” (Mk 14:53).
The series of humiliations has began. All public places and tribunals of Jerusalem have seen his helplessness. He was dragged amidst jeers -- from Annas to Caiphas, to the Council, to Pilate, to Herod and back to Pilate. Then to the praetorium to be scourged, and to the steps for the people to see. Finally, he was led out, bearing his cross, to Calvary.
The question of Caiphas was twofold: on the disciples of Jesus and his doctrine. “Jesus answered, ‘I have spoken openly; ask them who have heard what I have spoken to them’.” (Jn 18:19-20) He was silent over the first.
What good testimony could he make of his disciples? At that moment one was denying him, and the others in hiding for fear of sharing their Master’s fate. He loved them too much to blame them; thus, remained silent.
On his doctrine, the questions were malicious, to extract a pretext for blame and condemnation. Jesus relied on appealing to public testimony, clearly showing he knew their guilty intentions. He had nothing to fear from a severe but just examination of what he had said and taught.
Our Lord gives us an example of silence when we cannot speak well of our neighbor. We learn also to watch our words, and to be prudent in what we say in public. If we are afterwards falsely accused, we may also appeal to the testimony of whoever heard us.
One of the servants gave Jesus a blow, saying, “Is that how you answer the high-priest?” (Jn 18:22) Jesus answered, “If I have spoken evil, give testimony of the evil; but if well, why strike me? (Jn 18:23).
It is almost impossible to understand the intensity of this outrage against God and our Saviour. He received a blow, the greatest insult one man can give another, in the open court, from the hand of a servant. Made as a mark of correction from a brutal man to the Master of creation and Infinite Wisdom.
Did he take revenge for this cruel insolence? He gave a meek and prudent answer; no resentment at all.
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp101-3
On generosity
If, despite our struggle we still persist in selfishness, we will look again at Our Lady with the desire of imitating her in her generosity, the joy of giving ourselves to others. We must understand better how generosity enriches and widens the heart. And we must realize that selfishness is like a slow-acting poison that acts insidiously but with deadly effect.
Close to Mary, we perceive that God has made us for himself. Each time we give ourselves exclusively to our own plans, concentrating on ourselves and our personal affairs while ignoring him, we die a little more.
Generosity to God must be shown by generosity to our fellow-men. A characteristic of generosity is knowing how to ignore those little irritations that can arise in daily life. Knowing how to smile and make life more agreeable to those around us, although they may be suffering setbacks; to give others the benefit of the doubt; to accept people as they are.
When we approach the altar, let us endeavor to carry with us many deeds of understanding for others, courtesy, generosity and mercy. Our Mother, Mary, will help us to discover many opportunities in our everyday occupations of giving ourselves generously to the people around us.
Ref: cf Francis Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 1:192; 2:59-60
Sharing With Others
The path to God is not covered with interior joy alone. Man desires to bring others to Him, too. He, therefore becomes a messenger and apostle of the love of God: “Give thanks to the Lord, acclaim his name; among the nations make known his deeds.” (Is 12:4)
Man obedient to God’s grace discovers the world of God’s works, which are hidden to the eyes of the sinner. Man guided by divine grace also desires to ‘share the nearness to God, which he experiences, with others’.
Well, I want to tell you, in Christ’s name-- Have humble and courageous awareness of what the Father has given you. Let this awareness be your strength, your light, your hope. Give the world what the Father has given you: the kingdom of God.
Do not weary from continually seeking even the slightest occasions for widening prudent and sincere contacts with that great human and social reality in which you are immersed as leaven. Thus, conduct and carry forward that work of promotion, based on truth, justice and respect for the dignity of the person, which constitutes the necessary premise for the world to have knowledge of Christ in the faith and in the Church ...
Ref: cf “Prayers and Devotions from Pope John Paul II”, pp33-4
The Heart of the World
“Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us! ... Let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!” (Is 25:9) These words of Isaiah invite us to trust in the Lord ...
On the mountain of victory he is preparing a festive banquet for all peoples. Tears will be wiped away from all faces and death will be eliminated for ever. Peace will reign. Christ, Son of the Virgin Mary, will be the heart of the world.
Let us pray that the Father’s will may be done, making all people children of God through the unifying action of the Spirit.
Ref: “Breakfast with the Pope, Daily Readings”, Pope John Paul II, 1995, p120
Foundation of Savigny, in the diocese of Avranches, in Normandy, in honor of the Blessed Virgin, about the year 1112, by the blessed Vitalis, hermit, who was its first abbot. — Gallia Christi, t. iv. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)
Our Lady of Savigny, France (1112). (MaryLinks Calendar.htm)
Memorial: St Frances of Rome, religious -- A mother of three children, she zealously performed every duty at home, saying-- ‘A married woman must often leave God at the altar to find Him in her household care.’ (Fr James Socias, et al [Eds], “Daily Roman Missal”, 1989, p1491)
The series of humiliations has began. All public places and tribunals of Jerusalem have seen his helplessness. He was dragged amidst jeers -- from Annas to Caiphas, to the Council, to Pilate, to Herod and back to Pilate. Then to the praetorium to be scourged, and to the steps for the people to see. Finally, he was led out, bearing his cross, to Calvary.
The question of Caiphas was twofold: on the disciples of Jesus and his doctrine. “Jesus answered, ‘I have spoken openly; ask them who have heard what I have spoken to them’.” (Jn 18:19-20) He was silent over the first.
What good testimony could he make of his disciples? At that moment one was denying him, and the others in hiding for fear of sharing their Master’s fate. He loved them too much to blame them; thus, remained silent.
On his doctrine, the questions were malicious, to extract a pretext for blame and condemnation. Jesus relied on appealing to public testimony, clearly showing he knew their guilty intentions. He had nothing to fear from a severe but just examination of what he had said and taught.
Our Lord gives us an example of silence when we cannot speak well of our neighbor. We learn also to watch our words, and to be prudent in what we say in public. If we are afterwards falsely accused, we may also appeal to the testimony of whoever heard us.
One of the servants gave Jesus a blow, saying, “Is that how you answer the high-priest?” (Jn 18:22) Jesus answered, “If I have spoken evil, give testimony of the evil; but if well, why strike me? (Jn 18:23).
It is almost impossible to understand the intensity of this outrage against God and our Saviour. He received a blow, the greatest insult one man can give another, in the open court, from the hand of a servant. Made as a mark of correction from a brutal man to the Master of creation and Infinite Wisdom.
Did he take revenge for this cruel insolence? He gave a meek and prudent answer; no resentment at all.
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp101-3
On generosity
If, despite our struggle we still persist in selfishness, we will look again at Our Lady with the desire of imitating her in her generosity, the joy of giving ourselves to others. We must understand better how generosity enriches and widens the heart. And we must realize that selfishness is like a slow-acting poison that acts insidiously but with deadly effect.
Close to Mary, we perceive that God has made us for himself. Each time we give ourselves exclusively to our own plans, concentrating on ourselves and our personal affairs while ignoring him, we die a little more.
Generosity to God must be shown by generosity to our fellow-men. A characteristic of generosity is knowing how to ignore those little irritations that can arise in daily life. Knowing how to smile and make life more agreeable to those around us, although they may be suffering setbacks; to give others the benefit of the doubt; to accept people as they are.
When we approach the altar, let us endeavor to carry with us many deeds of understanding for others, courtesy, generosity and mercy. Our Mother, Mary, will help us to discover many opportunities in our everyday occupations of giving ourselves generously to the people around us.
Ref: cf Francis Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 1:192; 2:59-60
Sharing With Others
The path to God is not covered with interior joy alone. Man desires to bring others to Him, too. He, therefore becomes a messenger and apostle of the love of God: “Give thanks to the Lord, acclaim his name; among the nations make known his deeds.” (Is 12:4)
Man obedient to God’s grace discovers the world of God’s works, which are hidden to the eyes of the sinner. Man guided by divine grace also desires to ‘share the nearness to God, which he experiences, with others’.
Well, I want to tell you, in Christ’s name-- Have humble and courageous awareness of what the Father has given you. Let this awareness be your strength, your light, your hope. Give the world what the Father has given you: the kingdom of God.
Do not weary from continually seeking even the slightest occasions for widening prudent and sincere contacts with that great human and social reality in which you are immersed as leaven. Thus, conduct and carry forward that work of promotion, based on truth, justice and respect for the dignity of the person, which constitutes the necessary premise for the world to have knowledge of Christ in the faith and in the Church ...
Ref: cf “Prayers and Devotions from Pope John Paul II”, pp33-4
The Heart of the World
“Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us! ... Let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!” (Is 25:9) These words of Isaiah invite us to trust in the Lord ...
On the mountain of victory he is preparing a festive banquet for all peoples. Tears will be wiped away from all faces and death will be eliminated for ever. Peace will reign. Christ, Son of the Virgin Mary, will be the heart of the world.
Let us pray that the Father’s will may be done, making all people children of God through the unifying action of the Spirit.
Ref: “Breakfast with the Pope, Daily Readings”, Pope John Paul II, 1995, p120
Foundation of Savigny, in the diocese of Avranches, in Normandy, in honor of the Blessed Virgin, about the year 1112, by the blessed Vitalis, hermit, who was its first abbot. — Gallia Christi, t. iv. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)
Our Lady of Savigny, France (1112). (MaryLinks Calendar.htm)
Memorial: St Frances of Rome, religious -- A mother of three children, she zealously performed every duty at home, saying-- ‘A married woman must often leave God at the altar to find Him in her household care.’ (Fr James Socias, et al [Eds], “Daily Roman Missal”, 1989, p1491)
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