[Sunday between 2 and 8 January or 6 January: Fr James Socias, et al (Editors), “Daily Roman Missal”, 1989, p135]
Epiphany means ‘manifestation’. The Church commemorates in today’s Solemnity the first manifestation of the Son of God made Man to the pagan world through the adoration of the Magi.
This feast proclaims the universal dimension of Christ’s mission -- to fulfil the promised salvation of all people. It was made a universal feast of the Church in the fourth century; and has been traditionally celebrated on 6 January.
For we have seen his star in the East and have come to worship him. (‘Communion Antiphon’: cf Mt 2:2) The star over Bethlehem shone upon all mankind. Jesus, newborn, ‘began to spread forth his light and his riches to the world, making use of a heavenly star to draw men from distant lands to himself’. (cf Luis de Granada, “Life of Jesus Christ”, Madrid 1975, VI, 54)
The Magi represent all the races and nations on earth; men with a ‘thirst for God’, a longing ‘... to adore the Lord God’. Upon their arrival in Jerusalem, a great religious capital, they did not find the one ‘born king of the Jews’. They asked the people, ‘Where is he?’
When we really want to find him, God shows us the way. He may even use means which seem least appropriate.
“Following the footsteps of the Wise Men ..., we ask ourselves where he could be. He cannot be present in the pride that separates us from God, nor in the lack of charity which cuts us off from others. Christ cannot be there. In that loveless state man is left alone.” (cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is Passing by”, 31)
The wise men represent all of humanity, past, present, future. In our daily struggle to be closer to Christ we will find in them and their noble effort something of ourselves. The star which guides us consists of three parts: “Holy Scripture, our Blessed Mother and the graces we receive from the Holy Spirit”. (cf St Bonaventure, “On the Epiphany of the Lord”)
The Lord has put into our hearts the longing to find him: “You did not choose me, but I chose you.” (Jn 15:16) Our way to him is in reading the Holy Gospel, living as good children of Our Blessed Mother, being faithful to our life of prayer and devotion to the sacraments, especially the Holy Eucharist.
The Three Kings are our intercessors in heaven. We can ask them to guide us along the path to finding Jesus, to help us not to lose heart along the way. “The same Christ who in Bethlehem, as a Child, accepted the gifts of the Magi Kings, is still the One to whom men and whole peoples ‘open their treasures’.” (John Paul II, “General Audience”, 24 Jan 1979)
Everything takes on a new value when offered to God. Our Mother in Heaven beckons us to hasten. Her Son eagerly awaits our arrival.
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 6:9-14
Prayer -- “O God, Who by the leading of a star didst on this day manifest Thine only-begotten Son to the Gentiles, mercifully grant that we, who know Thee now by faith, may be brought to the contemplation of Thy glorious majesty. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen” (Very Rev Charles J Callan, OP, STM and Very Rev John A McHugh, OP, STM, “Blessed Be God”, 1925, p197)
Consecration to Mary
True devotion grows in us with charity, advancing from the stage of the beginner to that of the more proficient; and continuing up to the stage of the perfect.
The first degree is to pray devoutly to Mary occasionally, eg, by saying the ‘Angelus’ when the bell rings.
The second degree is one of more perfect sentiments of veneration, confidence and love manifested by the daily recitation of the Rosary -- five decades or all fifteen [now 20 to include the Luminous mysteries].
In the third degree, the soul gives itself completely to our Lady by an act of consecration so as to belong altogether to Jesus through her.
Ref: Cf R Garrigou-Lagrange, “The Mother of the Saviour and Our Interior Life”, 1948, p256
• Daring -- “Be daring in your prayer, and the Lord will turn you from a pessimist into an optimist; from being timid, to being daring, from being feeble-spirited to being a man of faith, an apostle!” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Furrow”, 118)
“Do you want to be daring in a holy way, so that God may act through you? Have recourse to Mary, and she will accompany you along the path of humility, so that, when faced by what to the human mind is impossible, you may he able to answer with a fiat! -- be it done!, which unites the earth to Heaven.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Furrow”, 124)
• Our Lady of Prompt Succor, New Orleans, LA (1809). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html); (http://mariedenazareth.com.)
• Our Lady of Prompt Succor (New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.A.). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Patroness of New Orleans and Louisiana, USA. ... Plaque at the Shrine: "ON JAN 7, 1815, EVE OF THE BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS, URSULINES AND TOWNSFOLK PRAYED FOR VICTORY BEFORE THE VIRGIN'S STATUE, NOW IN THIS NATIONAL SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF PROMPT SUCCOR. EVER AFTER, FIRST AT ST. LOUIS CATHEDRAL AND SINCE 1851 IN THE URSULINES' CHAPEL, MASS OF THANKSGIVING HAS BEEN SUNG ON JANUARY 8, FULFILLING MOTHER MARIE OLIVIER DE VEZIN'S VOW. THE STATUE OF OUR LADY OF PROMPT SUCCOR, BROUGHT FROM FRANCE IN 1810, WAS CROWNED BY ARCHBISHOP FRANCIS JANSSENS IN 1895, AFTER ESTABLISHING THE CONFRATERNITY OF OUR LADY OF PROMPT SUCCOR. ARCHBISHOP JOHN R. SHAW DEDICATED THIS VOTIVE SHRINE ON JANUARY 8, 1924." www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm
• Our Lady of the Commencement (Naples). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
• Our Lady of the Commencement. Naples, Italy. Chapel begun by St Helen, dedicated by Pope Sylvester I. 320. [DeLigney here cites Petrus Stephanus, de locis sacris Neopolitania.] www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• Our Lady of the Commencement at Naples. This chapel was built by St. Helena, and consecrated by SL Sylvester, in the year 320. (Bethlehem Observer Historical Calendar)
• Our Lady of Commencement. Naples, Italy. (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Thursday, January 5, 2012
6 January 2012: Alarm, hypocrisy and disappointment of King Herod
At the Magi’s question as to where the King of the Jews, whose star they had seen, was born, “Herod was troubled and all Jerusalem with him” (Mt 2:3). Why is King Herod terrified? Was it selfishness, ambition or jealousy? He feared losing his kingdom!
We also become troubled, sad or discouraged. Is it because God is offended? Or because we have been humbled, reprimanded, contradicted? The bottom line is pride, vanity, jealousy, or loss of comfort!
Herod privately learned from the wise men the time the star appeared. Sending the Magi to Bethlehem, he said, “Go and diligently inquire after the Child; when you have found Him, bring me word, that I also may come and adore Him” (Mt 2:8).
What was Herod’s real plan in this seemingly respectful and pious counsel? To find out the age and home of the Divine Child, that he might put Him to death. And to ensure success of his evil plan, he orders a massacre of all children of the same age born in the vicinity of Bethlehem. What hypocrisy!
Hypocrisy offends God and men. To make a pretext of virtue, unmindful of its reality, is hypocrisy. Some examples of hypocrisy are:
To obey orders, or conform to rule, only because we are observed.
To pretend that we approve of our director and of his orders in his presence, but condemn him at his back.
To speak out just to obtain what we desire.
To speak ill of one’s self, so as to attract praise.
The angel of the Lord ordered the Magi to return by another way. Then he told Joseph to flee with the Child into Egypt. Thus, the wicked plans of King Herod were rebuffed. The massacre of the children peopled heaven with new saints. Herod earned the hatred of men and of posterity.
Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp21-3
Our supernatural growth
In the growth of Jesus, Divine Wisdom required that the Redeemer should be like us in all things. (St Cyril of Alexandria, “One in Christ”) Our maturity in years must be accompanied by a commensurate progressive increase in human virtue and the supernatural life. The growth the Lord requires of us is unique: to renew and refresh our youth instead of leaving it.
In the supernatural life, the Christian never grows old. We can always turn towards “God Who gives joy to my youth” (Ps 42:4) even in old age. God keeps young those who love Him. We might have known saintly people who, though old in years, have had great interior youthfulness of spirit due to a faithful relationship to Christ as manifested in all their acts.
This supernatural growth comes from grace, obtained especially through the Sacraments and continual practice of the virtues. Grace, deposited in our hearts like a seed (cf 1 Jn 3:9), struggles to grow and brings us to its fulness (cf Eph 4:13). “The obstacle it contends with is sin -- ... a diminution of the human person -- which prevents a man reaching his fullness of spirit.” (Second Vatican Council, “Gaudium et spes”, 13)
The spiritual man acts through the impulse of the Holy Spirit (cf Eph 3:16) by practising the virtues; and reaches his fulness of being with the help of the gifts of this same Holy Spirit, whose mission is to perfect the supernatural life by means of the yet imperfect theological virtues. These gifts are found in every soul in a state of grace.
Both human and supernatural maturity is a daily task of many minor successes gained by responding to grace in small things. By habitually practising the virtues and with an eye for detail we fashion a true character -- docile to the action of the Holy Spirit, a will fixed on God and on the needs of others for God’s sake.
Our supernatural growth must accompany our human growth to maturity. The natural virtues are the foundation of the supernatural. One’s true vocation is to be found embodied within one’s supernatural Christian vocation.
“When a soul strives to cultivate the human virtues, the heart is already very close to God. The Christian sees that the theological virtues -- faith, hope and charity -- and all the other things that bring with them the grace of God, impel him never to be neglectful of the good qualities that he shares with so many other men.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Friends of God”, 91)
Maturity makes one realistic and objective besides requiring the tenacity to continue a work, once begun, to completion despite any difficulty.
Our Blessed Mother Mary, “the model and living school of all the virtues”, (St Ambrose, “Treatise on Virginity”, 2) will “help us to reach a perfect maturity according to Christ Jesus” (Eph 4:13).
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 1:369-73
Prayer for Patience
· “O God, Who by the patience of Thine only-begotten Son has crushed the pride of the old enemy, give unto us, we beseech Thee, ever devoutly to have in mind what He with love endured for us, and thus, after His example, to bear with long suffering the troubles which come upon us. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.” (Very Rev Charles J Callan, OP, STM and Very Rev John A McHugh, OP, STM, “Blessed Be God”, 1925, p490)
Offer Our Gifts to the Divine Child with the Magi
Modern man, too ... meets with God when he opens up to Him with the interior gift of his human “ego”, to accept and exchange the immense gifts which He presented to him first: the gift of existence, the gift of the Redemption, the gift of faith.
And that Child, who accepted the gift of the Wise Men, is still always He before whom people and entire people “open their coffers”, that is, their treasures.
The gifts of the human spirit take on a particular value in the act of this opening to the incarnate God; they become the treasures of the various cultures, the spiritual wealth of the peoples, and of the nations, the common patrimony of all mankind.
The center of this exchange is Christ: the same who accepted the gifts of the Magi.
Ref: Cf Pope John Paul II, “Prayers and Devotions”, 1994, p51
• Our Lady’s presence on this day, at the marriage feast of Cana, induced her Son, aged, then thirty years, to change water into wine: this was his first public miracle. (Bethlehem Observer Historical Calendar)
• First Miracle of Our Lord through Mary’s intercession. Marriage at Cana. (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
• First public miracle of Jesus, performed at Mary's request. Marriage at Cana. Our Lady of Cana. John 2:1-10. ... Scholars continue to debate the interpretation of this episode, in which Jesus harshly rebukes Mary's request that he turn water into wine, she continues undaunted, and Jesus then performs the requested miracle. [DeLigney here cites Saint Epiphanius, Haeres (Heresies) 51]. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• Our Lady of Cana. (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (http://mariedenazareth.com)
• Our Lady of Cana (Wedding Feast at Cana). (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)
We also become troubled, sad or discouraged. Is it because God is offended? Or because we have been humbled, reprimanded, contradicted? The bottom line is pride, vanity, jealousy, or loss of comfort!
Herod privately learned from the wise men the time the star appeared. Sending the Magi to Bethlehem, he said, “Go and diligently inquire after the Child; when you have found Him, bring me word, that I also may come and adore Him” (Mt 2:8).
What was Herod’s real plan in this seemingly respectful and pious counsel? To find out the age and home of the Divine Child, that he might put Him to death. And to ensure success of his evil plan, he orders a massacre of all children of the same age born in the vicinity of Bethlehem. What hypocrisy!
Hypocrisy offends God and men. To make a pretext of virtue, unmindful of its reality, is hypocrisy. Some examples of hypocrisy are:
To obey orders, or conform to rule, only because we are observed.
To pretend that we approve of our director and of his orders in his presence, but condemn him at his back.
To speak out just to obtain what we desire.
To speak ill of one’s self, so as to attract praise.
The angel of the Lord ordered the Magi to return by another way. Then he told Joseph to flee with the Child into Egypt. Thus, the wicked plans of King Herod were rebuffed. The massacre of the children peopled heaven with new saints. Herod earned the hatred of men and of posterity.
Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp21-3
Our supernatural growth
In the growth of Jesus, Divine Wisdom required that the Redeemer should be like us in all things. (St Cyril of Alexandria, “One in Christ”) Our maturity in years must be accompanied by a commensurate progressive increase in human virtue and the supernatural life. The growth the Lord requires of us is unique: to renew and refresh our youth instead of leaving it.
In the supernatural life, the Christian never grows old. We can always turn towards “God Who gives joy to my youth” (Ps 42:4) even in old age. God keeps young those who love Him. We might have known saintly people who, though old in years, have had great interior youthfulness of spirit due to a faithful relationship to Christ as manifested in all their acts.
This supernatural growth comes from grace, obtained especially through the Sacraments and continual practice of the virtues. Grace, deposited in our hearts like a seed (cf 1 Jn 3:9), struggles to grow and brings us to its fulness (cf Eph 4:13). “The obstacle it contends with is sin -- ... a diminution of the human person -- which prevents a man reaching his fullness of spirit.” (Second Vatican Council, “Gaudium et spes”, 13)
The spiritual man acts through the impulse of the Holy Spirit (cf Eph 3:16) by practising the virtues; and reaches his fulness of being with the help of the gifts of this same Holy Spirit, whose mission is to perfect the supernatural life by means of the yet imperfect theological virtues. These gifts are found in every soul in a state of grace.
Both human and supernatural maturity is a daily task of many minor successes gained by responding to grace in small things. By habitually practising the virtues and with an eye for detail we fashion a true character -- docile to the action of the Holy Spirit, a will fixed on God and on the needs of others for God’s sake.
Our supernatural growth must accompany our human growth to maturity. The natural virtues are the foundation of the supernatural. One’s true vocation is to be found embodied within one’s supernatural Christian vocation.
“When a soul strives to cultivate the human virtues, the heart is already very close to God. The Christian sees that the theological virtues -- faith, hope and charity -- and all the other things that bring with them the grace of God, impel him never to be neglectful of the good qualities that he shares with so many other men.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Friends of God”, 91)
Maturity makes one realistic and objective besides requiring the tenacity to continue a work, once begun, to completion despite any difficulty.
Our Blessed Mother Mary, “the model and living school of all the virtues”, (St Ambrose, “Treatise on Virginity”, 2) will “help us to reach a perfect maturity according to Christ Jesus” (Eph 4:13).
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 1:369-73
Prayer for Patience
· “O God, Who by the patience of Thine only-begotten Son has crushed the pride of the old enemy, give unto us, we beseech Thee, ever devoutly to have in mind what He with love endured for us, and thus, after His example, to bear with long suffering the troubles which come upon us. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.” (Very Rev Charles J Callan, OP, STM and Very Rev John A McHugh, OP, STM, “Blessed Be God”, 1925, p490)
Offer Our Gifts to the Divine Child with the Magi
Modern man, too ... meets with God when he opens up to Him with the interior gift of his human “ego”, to accept and exchange the immense gifts which He presented to him first: the gift of existence, the gift of the Redemption, the gift of faith.
And that Child, who accepted the gift of the Wise Men, is still always He before whom people and entire people “open their coffers”, that is, their treasures.
The gifts of the human spirit take on a particular value in the act of this opening to the incarnate God; they become the treasures of the various cultures, the spiritual wealth of the peoples, and of the nations, the common patrimony of all mankind.
The center of this exchange is Christ: the same who accepted the gifts of the Magi.
Ref: Cf Pope John Paul II, “Prayers and Devotions”, 1994, p51
• Our Lady’s presence on this day, at the marriage feast of Cana, induced her Son, aged, then thirty years, to change water into wine: this was his first public miracle. (Bethlehem Observer Historical Calendar)
• First Miracle of Our Lord through Mary’s intercession. Marriage at Cana. (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
• First public miracle of Jesus, performed at Mary's request. Marriage at Cana. Our Lady of Cana. John 2:1-10. ... Scholars continue to debate the interpretation of this episode, in which Jesus harshly rebukes Mary's request that he turn water into wine, she continues undaunted, and Jesus then performs the requested miracle. [DeLigney here cites Saint Epiphanius, Haeres (Heresies) 51]. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• Our Lady of Cana. (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (http://mariedenazareth.com)
• Our Lady of Cana (Wedding Feast at Cana). (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)
7 January 2012
Offering of the Magi
The Magi diligently observed an Oriental custom that no one comes before a king or powerful prince without offering him presents. After having adored the Infant Jesus by prostrating themselves, they opened their treasures, and “offered Him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh” (Mt 2:11).
These gifts were the most precious products of their native land; but by a secret disposition of Providence, they also represent the three eminent characteristics of the Messiah. His eternal and universal royalty is represented by gold; His divinity by frankincense; and His humanity by myrrh.
“Thou shalt not appear before Me empty” (Ex 3:15) was the Lord’s precept to the people of Israel after He had enriched them with the spoils of Egypt. He gives the same to us, whom he has enriched with the infinite merits of His blood and His death.
Thus, it is ‘a want of devotion if we adore God without offering Him something’ (St Chrysostom). At the foot of the Tabernacle, let us add to our acts of adoration the offering of a mortification or generous resolution.
The feelings which accompanied the Magi’s gifts were their chief merit. ‘Feelings of joy and generosity’ -- they offered the superb gifts with all their hearts. ‘Feelings of humility’ -- grieved not to be able to offer gifts a thousand times more precious. ‘Feelings of love and the tenderest filial devotion’ -- to the service of their King and God.
God values our gifts, not in terms of their actual worth, but based on the accompanying feelings (recall the poor widow in Lk 21:2 and Mk 12:42). With what goodwill must he have received the gifts of the holy Kings, looking on them with eyes full of love! And he is never outdone in generosity. Undoubtedly, in return he gave them infinitely more precious gifts: of grace and of final perseverance.
How consoling and encouraging are these thoughts! They bring to mind the promise of Jesus Christ -- that our smallest offerings, our most trifling good actions, even if it be but ‘a drop of cold water’ (cf Mt 24:40), in his name, will not lose their reward.
Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp24-6
On our charity, prayers and sacrifices
The Creator of all things does not need our gifts; but he wants us to be generous so that we may receive more graces and gifts from him.
We present him ‘the gold’ of our charity-- our desire to love him more, to treat others with more love. We offer ‘the frankincense’ of our prayers and good works. We give ‘the myrrh’ of our sacrifices united to the Sacrifice of the Cross as renewed in the Holy Mass.
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 6:13
The Finding of Jesus in the Temple
“On the third day they came upon him in the temple sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. All who heard him were amazed at his intelligence.” (Lk 2:46-7)
At that time a meeting such as this had a deep significance: knowledge, wisdom, guidance of practical life in the light of the Old Testament. Such, in every age, is the task of human intelligence: to garner the wisdom of the ages, to transmit sound teaching, to firmly and humbly pursue scientific studies, for we all die and hopefully, we go to God; but mankind journeys toward the future.
Christ is never absent on the level of supernatural and natural knowledge. He is always at His place: “Only one is your teacher, the Messiah.” (Mt 23:10)
This fifth decade of the joyful mysteries is a specially beneficial invocation for all those who are called by God, because of their natural gifts or the circumstances of their lives, to the service of truth. They are all called to imitate Jesus since they have the particular task of honoring the truth, and must communicate it with pious fidelity and utmost prudence.
Ref: Cf Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, 1984, p62
Jesus is our only Teacher
On beginning his public life, people “were amazed at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not like the scribes” (Mk 1:22). When they were listening to him the crowds forgot their hunger, their cold. He told his disciples, “You call me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for that is what I am” (Jn 13:13).
Jesus continuously taught-- in the Synagogues (Mt 4:23), by the lakeside (Mk 3:9), in the Temple (Mt 21:22-3), along the roads (Jn 4:5), in houses, etc. “There is much else besides that Jesus did. If all of it were put in writing, I do not think the world itself would contain the books which would have to be written.” (Jn 21:25)
Jesus always tells each one of us what we need to hear. When we read with a faithful heart the Gospel for a few minutes each day, meditating on it slowly, we feel urged to say with St Peter: “Lord, you alone have the words of eternal life” (Jn 6:68).
We must learn to hear Christ in our life, in our soul, in the different ways and circumstances in which he speaks to us. He always has something to tell us, personally. Our heart must know how to listen, attentive to the things of God: Our Teacher always; today and will be, tomorrow.
Ask above all for a heart capable of listening, and of understanding those interior motions of the Paraclete in our soul-- this language of God who speaks to us through the Magisterium of the Church; this doctrine, which comes to us so clearly through the Pope and the Bishops in union with him and which demands a practical response.
We ask Our Lady that we may be attentive to the voice of God, who speaks to us today as he did twenty centuries ago, although at times he uses intermediaries.
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, op cit, 1:353-5, 358-9
Fruitfulness -- “Let us go to Jesus in the Tabernacle where we can get to know him and assimilate his teaching, and then be able to hand out this food to souls.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Forge”, 938)
• Return of Our Lady, with Jesus and St. Joseph, from Egypt into Judea. (Bethlehem Observer Historical Calendar)
• Return of Our Lady to Judea with Jesus and Joseph. (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
• Our Lady of Egypt. Mary, Joseph and Jesus return from Egypt to Israel. Pope John Paul II's speech at ecumenical celebration at Coptic/Catholic Our Lady of Egypt Cathedral. [DeLigney here cites Martyrologium Romanum, 7 Jan.] www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm
• Our Lady of Egypt (Return of Our Lady from Egypt to Judea with Jesus and Joseph). (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)
• Our Lady of Egypt. (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (http://mariedenazareth.com)
Offering of the Magi
The Magi diligently observed an Oriental custom that no one comes before a king or powerful prince without offering him presents. After having adored the Infant Jesus by prostrating themselves, they opened their treasures, and “offered Him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh” (Mt 2:11).
These gifts were the most precious products of their native land; but by a secret disposition of Providence, they also represent the three eminent characteristics of the Messiah. His eternal and universal royalty is represented by gold; His divinity by frankincense; and His humanity by myrrh.
“Thou shalt not appear before Me empty” (Ex 3:15) was the Lord’s precept to the people of Israel after He had enriched them with the spoils of Egypt. He gives the same to us, whom he has enriched with the infinite merits of His blood and His death.
Thus, it is ‘a want of devotion if we adore God without offering Him something’ (St Chrysostom). At the foot of the Tabernacle, let us add to our acts of adoration the offering of a mortification or generous resolution.
The feelings which accompanied the Magi’s gifts were their chief merit. ‘Feelings of joy and generosity’ -- they offered the superb gifts with all their hearts. ‘Feelings of humility’ -- grieved not to be able to offer gifts a thousand times more precious. ‘Feelings of love and the tenderest filial devotion’ -- to the service of their King and God.
God values our gifts, not in terms of their actual worth, but based on the accompanying feelings (recall the poor widow in Lk 21:2 and Mk 12:42). With what goodwill must he have received the gifts of the holy Kings, looking on them with eyes full of love! And he is never outdone in generosity. Undoubtedly, in return he gave them infinitely more precious gifts: of grace and of final perseverance.
How consoling and encouraging are these thoughts! They bring to mind the promise of Jesus Christ -- that our smallest offerings, our most trifling good actions, even if it be but ‘a drop of cold water’ (cf Mt 24:40), in his name, will not lose their reward.
Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp24-6
On our charity, prayers and sacrifices
The Creator of all things does not need our gifts; but he wants us to be generous so that we may receive more graces and gifts from him.
We present him ‘the gold’ of our charity-- our desire to love him more, to treat others with more love. We offer ‘the frankincense’ of our prayers and good works. We give ‘the myrrh’ of our sacrifices united to the Sacrifice of the Cross as renewed in the Holy Mass.
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 6:13
The Finding of Jesus in the Temple
“On the third day they came upon him in the temple sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. All who heard him were amazed at his intelligence.” (Lk 2:46-7)
At that time a meeting such as this had a deep significance: knowledge, wisdom, guidance of practical life in the light of the Old Testament. Such, in every age, is the task of human intelligence: to garner the wisdom of the ages, to transmit sound teaching, to firmly and humbly pursue scientific studies, for we all die and hopefully, we go to God; but mankind journeys toward the future.
Christ is never absent on the level of supernatural and natural knowledge. He is always at His place: “Only one is your teacher, the Messiah.” (Mt 23:10)
This fifth decade of the joyful mysteries is a specially beneficial invocation for all those who are called by God, because of their natural gifts or the circumstances of their lives, to the service of truth. They are all called to imitate Jesus since they have the particular task of honoring the truth, and must communicate it with pious fidelity and utmost prudence.
Ref: Cf Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, 1984, p62
Jesus is our only Teacher
On beginning his public life, people “were amazed at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not like the scribes” (Mk 1:22). When they were listening to him the crowds forgot their hunger, their cold. He told his disciples, “You call me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for that is what I am” (Jn 13:13).
Jesus continuously taught-- in the Synagogues (Mt 4:23), by the lakeside (Mk 3:9), in the Temple (Mt 21:22-3), along the roads (Jn 4:5), in houses, etc. “There is much else besides that Jesus did. If all of it were put in writing, I do not think the world itself would contain the books which would have to be written.” (Jn 21:25)
Jesus always tells each one of us what we need to hear. When we read with a faithful heart the Gospel for a few minutes each day, meditating on it slowly, we feel urged to say with St Peter: “Lord, you alone have the words of eternal life” (Jn 6:68).
We must learn to hear Christ in our life, in our soul, in the different ways and circumstances in which he speaks to us. He always has something to tell us, personally. Our heart must know how to listen, attentive to the things of God: Our Teacher always; today and will be, tomorrow.
Ask above all for a heart capable of listening, and of understanding those interior motions of the Paraclete in our soul-- this language of God who speaks to us through the Magisterium of the Church; this doctrine, which comes to us so clearly through the Pope and the Bishops in union with him and which demands a practical response.
We ask Our Lady that we may be attentive to the voice of God, who speaks to us today as he did twenty centuries ago, although at times he uses intermediaries.
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, op cit, 1:353-5, 358-9
Fruitfulness -- “Let us go to Jesus in the Tabernacle where we can get to know him and assimilate his teaching, and then be able to hand out this food to souls.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Forge”, 938)
• Return of Our Lady, with Jesus and St. Joseph, from Egypt into Judea. (Bethlehem Observer Historical Calendar)
• Return of Our Lady to Judea with Jesus and Joseph. (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
• Our Lady of Egypt. Mary, Joseph and Jesus return from Egypt to Israel. Pope John Paul II's speech at ecumenical celebration at Coptic/Catholic Our Lady of Egypt Cathedral. [DeLigney here cites Martyrologium Romanum, 7 Jan.] www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm
• Our Lady of Egypt (Return of Our Lady from Egypt to Judea with Jesus and Joseph). (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)
• Our Lady of Egypt. (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (http://mariedenazareth.com)
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
5 January 2012: Three circumstances during the journey of the Magi
The star disappeared when they came near to Jerusalem. Deprived of this heavenly guide, their consolation until then, what were they to do? They were not discouraged; but proceeded to the city.
On King Herod’s advice, they consulted the doctors of the law to learn where the Messiah should be born. On being told it would be Bethlehem, they immediately took the road that leads to it.
God treats his faithful servants as He did the Magi. He gives them light and consolation. Or He withdraws these leaving them alone in a sort of dark night, to try them and to purify their faith and their love. What must we do then?
Let us imitate the holy Kings and lay aside all discouragement. Adore the designs of God; relax none of our duties and pious practices. Waiting for the light to return, seek with humility and docility the advice of our directors.
God immediately rewarded the humble confidence and docility of the Magi. They had scarcely left Jerusalem when the star reappeared; “... they rejoiced with exceeding great joy; and it went before them until it came and stood over where the Child was” (Mt 2:9-10).
Such is and always will be what diverse trials God gives us bring provided we imitate the fidelity and constancy of the holy Kings. But we are often unfaithful and inconstant! Instead of persevering in our resolve and going to our spiritual directors, we run to creatures for consolation!
The Magi must have been surprised to find a deserted stable beneath the star. Inside was a little Infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, on a little straw in a manger, with His Mother (just like any ordinary woman), a craftsman, and some poor shepherds. What a test of their faith!
How can this Child be the promised King of Israel, the Saviour of mankind? It was enough to wound their pride and be discouraged; but the Magi were humble. God manifests Himself and ‘gives grace to the humble’.
Suddenly grace enlightens them. They understand the great mystery of the voluntary humiliations of the Saviour God. They adore Him, and their souls flooded with great delight. The stable is changed for them into paradise.
Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp19-21
On our being children of God
Divine sonship is the foundation of true freedom amidst every kind of oppression, especially in striving to dominate our evil inclinations (cf Rom 6:12-3); the firm anchor of peace and joy. The Christian finds in God the fatherly affection and confidence for an always uncertain future.
Our being children of God leads us to respect other people, who are God’s children, too. Our Lady invites us to come beside the crib and look at her Son. We will be good children of our Father God by being close to Jesus. We ask her for a behaviour to equal this supreme dignity.
We also beg Our Lady to help us never to forget, whatever our status, that we are really and truly children of God. “And if children, then heirs: heirs of God and fellow-heirs with God.” (Rom 8:17)
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 1:295-6
Mary makes us feel brothers
Selfish personal problems will find no place in our mind. Mary brings us to Jesus, and Jesus is “the firstborn among many brothers” (Rom 8:29). And so, if we know Jesus, we realize that we can live only by giving ourselves to the service of others. A Christian can’t be caught up in personal problems; he must be concerned about the universal Church and the salvation of all souls.
Concern with one’s own spiritual improvement is not really a personal thing, for sanctification is completely bound up with apostolate. ...
Ref: Cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 145
On the value of Time
‘Time is as precious as heaven.’ (St Bernard) How true! Without the trials of time no one will reach heaven, the eternal reward for a good use of time which can depend upon an instant well employed.
Witness the good thief -- his life had been bad. Near death, but enlightened by grace, humbly realized his sins, and implored mercy. At once, Jesus said, ‘... today you will be with Me in Paradise’ (Lk 23:43). And all he asked is to be remembered!
‘Time is as precious as the Blood of Jesus Christ’, adds St Bernard, because one timely good action can merit before God only for redemption which was bought with his Blood. ‘A single drop of that Blood would suffice to redeem the world.’ (St Thomas) He bestows His gifts and graces in torrents, but time He gives only tick by tick. And how people waste time on trifles! They study how to offend God and court eternal misery.
Jesus Christ assures us that time lost, insignificant it may be, will be noticed: “I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall render an account for it on the Day of Judgment.” (Mt 12:35)
Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp10-12
The Time of Truth
“Anyone who does not take up his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” (Lk 14:27)
So it is a time of deep truth, truth which converts, restores hope, puts everything in its place, reconciles and lets optimism arise.
It is a time which makes us think about our relations with ‘Our Father’. A time which re-establishes the order that ought to reign among brothers and sisters.
A time which makes us responsible for one another and frees us from our egoisms, our pettinesses, our meannesses, our pride. A time which enlightens us and lets us understand better that we also must serve, like Christ. ...
A time of Truth. Like the Good Samaritan, it makes us halt on the way and recognize our brother, put our time and goods at his service in daily sharing. The Good Samaritan is the Church!
The Good Samaritan is each of us! Through vocation! Through duty! The Good Samaritan lives charity.
And this is our responsibility! We are called to others, to our brethren.
Where is our love in it? Where is our Truth?
Ref: Cf Pope John Paul II, “Prayers and Devotions”, 1994, pp110-11
• Our Lady of Abundance or Prosperity, Cursi, Italy (1641). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html); (http://mariedenazareth.com)
• Our Lady of Abundance / Prosperity. Cursi, Italy. 1641. Appears in “Remember the Alamo”, by Amelia Barr. Titles are frequently applied to Isis, mother, goddess, etc. ["On this day in 1606, a paralytic man is said to have been miraculously cured in the Church of Our Lady of Sichem, in Brabant. (Justus Lipsius, History of Sichem, chap 24)"] (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• On this day, in the year 1606, a paralytic man is said to have been miraculously cared in the Church of Our Lady of Sichem, in Brabant. (Bethlehem Observer Historical Calendar)
• Miracles of Our Lady of Sichem. (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
On King Herod’s advice, they consulted the doctors of the law to learn where the Messiah should be born. On being told it would be Bethlehem, they immediately took the road that leads to it.
God treats his faithful servants as He did the Magi. He gives them light and consolation. Or He withdraws these leaving them alone in a sort of dark night, to try them and to purify their faith and their love. What must we do then?
Let us imitate the holy Kings and lay aside all discouragement. Adore the designs of God; relax none of our duties and pious practices. Waiting for the light to return, seek with humility and docility the advice of our directors.
God immediately rewarded the humble confidence and docility of the Magi. They had scarcely left Jerusalem when the star reappeared; “... they rejoiced with exceeding great joy; and it went before them until it came and stood over where the Child was” (Mt 2:9-10).
Such is and always will be what diverse trials God gives us bring provided we imitate the fidelity and constancy of the holy Kings. But we are often unfaithful and inconstant! Instead of persevering in our resolve and going to our spiritual directors, we run to creatures for consolation!
The Magi must have been surprised to find a deserted stable beneath the star. Inside was a little Infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, on a little straw in a manger, with His Mother (just like any ordinary woman), a craftsman, and some poor shepherds. What a test of their faith!
How can this Child be the promised King of Israel, the Saviour of mankind? It was enough to wound their pride and be discouraged; but the Magi were humble. God manifests Himself and ‘gives grace to the humble’.
Suddenly grace enlightens them. They understand the great mystery of the voluntary humiliations of the Saviour God. They adore Him, and their souls flooded with great delight. The stable is changed for them into paradise.
Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp19-21
On our being children of God
Divine sonship is the foundation of true freedom amidst every kind of oppression, especially in striving to dominate our evil inclinations (cf Rom 6:12-3); the firm anchor of peace and joy. The Christian finds in God the fatherly affection and confidence for an always uncertain future.
Our being children of God leads us to respect other people, who are God’s children, too. Our Lady invites us to come beside the crib and look at her Son. We will be good children of our Father God by being close to Jesus. We ask her for a behaviour to equal this supreme dignity.
We also beg Our Lady to help us never to forget, whatever our status, that we are really and truly children of God. “And if children, then heirs: heirs of God and fellow-heirs with God.” (Rom 8:17)
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 1:295-6
Mary makes us feel brothers
Selfish personal problems will find no place in our mind. Mary brings us to Jesus, and Jesus is “the firstborn among many brothers” (Rom 8:29). And so, if we know Jesus, we realize that we can live only by giving ourselves to the service of others. A Christian can’t be caught up in personal problems; he must be concerned about the universal Church and the salvation of all souls.
Concern with one’s own spiritual improvement is not really a personal thing, for sanctification is completely bound up with apostolate. ...
Ref: Cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 145
On the value of Time
‘Time is as precious as heaven.’ (St Bernard) How true! Without the trials of time no one will reach heaven, the eternal reward for a good use of time which can depend upon an instant well employed.
Witness the good thief -- his life had been bad. Near death, but enlightened by grace, humbly realized his sins, and implored mercy. At once, Jesus said, ‘... today you will be with Me in Paradise’ (Lk 23:43). And all he asked is to be remembered!
‘Time is as precious as the Blood of Jesus Christ’, adds St Bernard, because one timely good action can merit before God only for redemption which was bought with his Blood. ‘A single drop of that Blood would suffice to redeem the world.’ (St Thomas) He bestows His gifts and graces in torrents, but time He gives only tick by tick. And how people waste time on trifles! They study how to offend God and court eternal misery.
Jesus Christ assures us that time lost, insignificant it may be, will be noticed: “I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall render an account for it on the Day of Judgment.” (Mt 12:35)
Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp10-12
The Time of Truth
“Anyone who does not take up his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” (Lk 14:27)
So it is a time of deep truth, truth which converts, restores hope, puts everything in its place, reconciles and lets optimism arise.
It is a time which makes us think about our relations with ‘Our Father’. A time which re-establishes the order that ought to reign among brothers and sisters.
A time which makes us responsible for one another and frees us from our egoisms, our pettinesses, our meannesses, our pride. A time which enlightens us and lets us understand better that we also must serve, like Christ. ...
A time of Truth. Like the Good Samaritan, it makes us halt on the way and recognize our brother, put our time and goods at his service in daily sharing. The Good Samaritan is the Church!
The Good Samaritan is each of us! Through vocation! Through duty! The Good Samaritan lives charity.
And this is our responsibility! We are called to others, to our brethren.
Where is our love in it? Where is our Truth?
Ref: Cf Pope John Paul II, “Prayers and Devotions”, 1994, pp110-11
• Our Lady of Abundance or Prosperity, Cursi, Italy (1641). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html); (http://mariedenazareth.com)
• Our Lady of Abundance / Prosperity. Cursi, Italy. 1641. Appears in “Remember the Alamo”, by Amelia Barr. Titles are frequently applied to Isis, mother, goddess, etc. ["On this day in 1606, a paralytic man is said to have been miraculously cured in the Church of Our Lady of Sichem, in Brabant. (Justus Lipsius, History of Sichem, chap 24)"] (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• On this day, in the year 1606, a paralytic man is said to have been miraculously cared in the Church of Our Lady of Sichem, in Brabant. (Bethlehem Observer Historical Calendar)
• Miracles of Our Lady of Sichem. (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
4 January 2012: The Tears of Our Lady of Akita
The Mother of God has entrusted Sister Agnes Saragawa, a Japanese nun with important messages for the world. In 1973, the Blessed Virgin appeared in Japan, where about 0.3 percent of the population is Catholic.
The religious order and convent visited by the Blessed Virgin is dedicated to adoration of the Holy Eucharist. The first focus of the mystical events at Akita* was to affirm the Real Presence of Our Lord in the Eucharist. (*Approved by the local bishop.)
On 4 January 1975, the statue wept for the first time. The angel told Sister Agnes: “Do not be so surprised to see the Blessed Virgin weeping. She weeps because she wishes the conversion of the greatest number. She desires that souls be consecrated to Jesus and to the Father by her intercession. ... The Blessed Virgin rejoices in the consecration of Japan to her Immaculate Heart because she loves Japan.
“But she is sad to see that this devotion is not taken seriously. ... The prayer which you have the custom of saying, ‘Grant to Japan the grace of conversion through the intercession of the Virgin Mary’, is pleasing to the Lord. ... speak to the greatest number in order to console the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Spread this devotion with courage for their greater glory.”
Ref: Ted and Maureen Flynn, “The Thunder of Justice”, 1993, pp181, 189
Mary as Co-Redemptrix
The events at Akita allude to the Blessed Virgin as Co-Redemptrix. Mary’s message comes in several ways:
1) the statue is a reproduction of ‘Our Lady of All Nations’ as she appeared in Amsterdam, when she announced a forthcoming dogmatic proclamation of Mary as Co-Redemptrix, Mediatrix, and Advocate;
2) the right hand of the statue bears a cross-shaped stigmata which bled; and
3) the statue sweated fluid and wept blood.
The sweat and blood evoke images of Our Lord during His Passion. The Mother of Christ as Co-Redemptrix shares in Her Son’s suffering.
“If there is a particular conclusion to be drawn from the blood shed by Our Lady of Akita, it is that her mission as Co-Redemptrix has never ended, that it continues to this very day”, said the missionary who worked in Japan for thirty years and was superior to the Sisters.
Ref: Ted and Maureen Flynn, “The Thunder of Justice”, 1993, p182
Mary, Co-redemptrix with the Redeemer
Mary, the humble handmaid of the Lord was chosen by the Father in fulfilling her God-elected task with her redeeming Son as the ‘Co-redemptrix’ (‘co’ meaning ‘with’ not ‘equal to’). Foreshadowed as the Co-redemptrix in the Old Testament (cf Gen 3:15; Is 7:14), she became the Co-redemptrix with her ‘Fiat’ at the Annunciation (cf Lk 1:28).
Her role as Co-redemptrix was prophesied to her by the power of the Holy Spirit at the Temple. (cf Lk 2:35) As Mary, Virgin of Nazareth, she became Co-redemptrix in its fullest expression through her intimate and intense suffering with the Redeemer at the foot of the cross. (cf Jn 19:26)
As gift for her sharing in the redemption of the human family, Mary also becomes Mediatrix and Advocate for her children in the order of grace. Pope John Paul II concludes, “Mary’s role as Co-redemptrix did not cease with the glorification of her Son”. (Pope John Paul II, “Address”, Sanctuary of “Our Lady of Arbolada”, Guayaquil, 31 January 1985)
Ref: M I Miravalle, “Mary: Coredemptrix, Mediatrix, Advocate”
Simplicity and naturalness of the Holy Family
“Mary, the most holy Mother of God, passes unnoticed as just one more among the women of her town. Learn from her how to live with naturalness.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 499) Her simplicity and naturalness made her very amiable.
Jesus was a model of perfect simplicity. In manifesting his Divinity, he performed the miracles without vain-glory. He was accessible to all -- the terminally sick and abandoned; the Apostles and children.
Simplicity, a sign of humility is essential in our relationship with God, for spiritual direction and in dealing with others. “Naturalness. Let your lives as Christian men, ... women -- your salt and your light -- flow spontaneously, without anything odd or absurd; always carry with you a spirit of simplicity.“ (cf ibid, op cit, 379)
“If thy eye is clear, the whole of thy body will be lit up.” (Mt 6:22) Simplicity demands transparency and a right intention which preserves us from serving two masters: God and ourselves. Simplicity also requires a strong will which leads us to choose the good. It tempers an exclusively sensual life. The simple person rightly judges events, persons and things illumined by faith, not by momentary impressions. (cf I Celaya, “Simplicity”, in “Gran Enciclopedia Rialp”, Madrid 1971, vol 21, pp173-4)
Simplicity is a consequence of the spiritual childhood to which Jesus calls us: “Believe me, unless you become like little children” -- in simplicity and innocence -- “you shall not enter the Kingdom of heaven” (Mt 18:2-3). We go to Our Lord like children because we know he ignores external appearances, but “reads the heart” (1 Sam 16:7).
If we are simple before God we will always be simple with everybody. We will act and speak in complete accord with our thoughts and desires; show ourself as we are and not pretend to be what we are not or to have what we do not possess.
It is always a great joy to meet someone like Nathanael who earned Our Lord’s praise: “Here comes one who belongs to the true Israel: there is no falsehood in him.” (Jn 1:47)
Jesus also makes us beware of “false prophets, men who come ... in sheep’s clothing” (Mt 7:15), who think one thing, but do another. We must be completely simple in prayer, spiritual guidance and Confession.
Simplicity and naturalness are extremely attractive but difficult virtues because pride gives us an exaggerated idea of ourselves. Pride can lead us to think exclusively about our personal problems; to seek a word of praise, to be the center of attention.
Simplicity is not being naive -- “I am sending you out to be like sheep among wolves: you must then be prudent as serpents and yet innocent as doves.” (Mt 10:16)
“The Apostles, for all their evident and undeniable defects, were sincere, simple, transparent. You, too have evident and undeniable defects. May you not lack simplicity.” (cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 932)
If we contemplate Jesus, Mary and Joseph in their ordinary life, they will teach us how to be like children before God and talk to Him personally.
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 1:313-8
• “Pessimism -- Turn to Our Lady -- the Mother, Daughter and Spouse of God, and our Mother -- and ask her to obtain more graces for you from the Blessed Trinity: the grace of faith, of hope, of love and of contrition. So that when it seems that a harsh dry wind is blowing in your life, threatening to wither those flowers of your soul, they will not wither -- and neither will those of your brothers.“ (St Josemaria Escrivá, (“The Forge”, 227)
• “You can! -- Do not abandon me, Lord. Don’t you see the bottomless pit this poor son of yours would end up in? My Mother: I am your son, too.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, (“The Forge”, 314)
• Dedication of Our Lady of Treves, in Germany, in the year 746, by Hydolph, Archbishop of Treves. The Princess Genevieve, wife of Syfrede, Palatine of Treves, and daughter of the Duke of Brahant, erected this church in a wood, on the very spot where Our Lady appeared to her, and assured her that her innocence should one day he acknowledged. (Bethlehem Observer Historical Calendar)
• “Madonna della Treviso”, Italy. 746. Appears to St Jerome Emiliani, 1530. ["Dedication of Our Lady of Treves, Germany, 746, by Hydolph, Archbishop of Treves. The Princess Genevieve (wife of Syfrede, Palatine of Treves, and daughter of the Duke of Brabant), erected this church in a wood, on the very spot where Our Lady appeared to her, and assured her that her innocence should one day be acknowledged. (Additions to Molanus, De sanctia Belgicis.") www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm
• Our Lady of Treves (Germany). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
• Our Lady of Treves, Italy (746). Appeared to St Jerome Emiliani, 1530. (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)
The religious order and convent visited by the Blessed Virgin is dedicated to adoration of the Holy Eucharist. The first focus of the mystical events at Akita* was to affirm the Real Presence of Our Lord in the Eucharist. (*Approved by the local bishop.)
On 4 January 1975, the statue wept for the first time. The angel told Sister Agnes: “Do not be so surprised to see the Blessed Virgin weeping. She weeps because she wishes the conversion of the greatest number. She desires that souls be consecrated to Jesus and to the Father by her intercession. ... The Blessed Virgin rejoices in the consecration of Japan to her Immaculate Heart because she loves Japan.
“But she is sad to see that this devotion is not taken seriously. ... The prayer which you have the custom of saying, ‘Grant to Japan the grace of conversion through the intercession of the Virgin Mary’, is pleasing to the Lord. ... speak to the greatest number in order to console the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Spread this devotion with courage for their greater glory.”
Ref: Ted and Maureen Flynn, “The Thunder of Justice”, 1993, pp181, 189
Mary as Co-Redemptrix
The events at Akita allude to the Blessed Virgin as Co-Redemptrix. Mary’s message comes in several ways:
1) the statue is a reproduction of ‘Our Lady of All Nations’ as she appeared in Amsterdam, when she announced a forthcoming dogmatic proclamation of Mary as Co-Redemptrix, Mediatrix, and Advocate;
2) the right hand of the statue bears a cross-shaped stigmata which bled; and
3) the statue sweated fluid and wept blood.
The sweat and blood evoke images of Our Lord during His Passion. The Mother of Christ as Co-Redemptrix shares in Her Son’s suffering.
“If there is a particular conclusion to be drawn from the blood shed by Our Lady of Akita, it is that her mission as Co-Redemptrix has never ended, that it continues to this very day”, said the missionary who worked in Japan for thirty years and was superior to the Sisters.
Ref: Ted and Maureen Flynn, “The Thunder of Justice”, 1993, p182
Mary, Co-redemptrix with the Redeemer
Mary, the humble handmaid of the Lord was chosen by the Father in fulfilling her God-elected task with her redeeming Son as the ‘Co-redemptrix’ (‘co’ meaning ‘with’ not ‘equal to’). Foreshadowed as the Co-redemptrix in the Old Testament (cf Gen 3:15; Is 7:14), she became the Co-redemptrix with her ‘Fiat’ at the Annunciation (cf Lk 1:28).
Her role as Co-redemptrix was prophesied to her by the power of the Holy Spirit at the Temple. (cf Lk 2:35) As Mary, Virgin of Nazareth, she became Co-redemptrix in its fullest expression through her intimate and intense suffering with the Redeemer at the foot of the cross. (cf Jn 19:26)
As gift for her sharing in the redemption of the human family, Mary also becomes Mediatrix and Advocate for her children in the order of grace. Pope John Paul II concludes, “Mary’s role as Co-redemptrix did not cease with the glorification of her Son”. (Pope John Paul II, “Address”, Sanctuary of “Our Lady of Arbolada”, Guayaquil, 31 January 1985)
Ref: M I Miravalle, “Mary: Coredemptrix, Mediatrix, Advocate”
Simplicity and naturalness of the Holy Family
“Mary, the most holy Mother of God, passes unnoticed as just one more among the women of her town. Learn from her how to live with naturalness.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 499) Her simplicity and naturalness made her very amiable.
Jesus was a model of perfect simplicity. In manifesting his Divinity, he performed the miracles without vain-glory. He was accessible to all -- the terminally sick and abandoned; the Apostles and children.
Simplicity, a sign of humility is essential in our relationship with God, for spiritual direction and in dealing with others. “Naturalness. Let your lives as Christian men, ... women -- your salt and your light -- flow spontaneously, without anything odd or absurd; always carry with you a spirit of simplicity.“ (cf ibid, op cit, 379)
“If thy eye is clear, the whole of thy body will be lit up.” (Mt 6:22) Simplicity demands transparency and a right intention which preserves us from serving two masters: God and ourselves. Simplicity also requires a strong will which leads us to choose the good. It tempers an exclusively sensual life. The simple person rightly judges events, persons and things illumined by faith, not by momentary impressions. (cf I Celaya, “Simplicity”, in “Gran Enciclopedia Rialp”, Madrid 1971, vol 21, pp173-4)
Simplicity is a consequence of the spiritual childhood to which Jesus calls us: “Believe me, unless you become like little children” -- in simplicity and innocence -- “you shall not enter the Kingdom of heaven” (Mt 18:2-3). We go to Our Lord like children because we know he ignores external appearances, but “reads the heart” (1 Sam 16:7).
If we are simple before God we will always be simple with everybody. We will act and speak in complete accord with our thoughts and desires; show ourself as we are and not pretend to be what we are not or to have what we do not possess.
It is always a great joy to meet someone like Nathanael who earned Our Lord’s praise: “Here comes one who belongs to the true Israel: there is no falsehood in him.” (Jn 1:47)
Jesus also makes us beware of “false prophets, men who come ... in sheep’s clothing” (Mt 7:15), who think one thing, but do another. We must be completely simple in prayer, spiritual guidance and Confession.
Simplicity and naturalness are extremely attractive but difficult virtues because pride gives us an exaggerated idea of ourselves. Pride can lead us to think exclusively about our personal problems; to seek a word of praise, to be the center of attention.
Simplicity is not being naive -- “I am sending you out to be like sheep among wolves: you must then be prudent as serpents and yet innocent as doves.” (Mt 10:16)
“The Apostles, for all their evident and undeniable defects, were sincere, simple, transparent. You, too have evident and undeniable defects. May you not lack simplicity.” (cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 932)
If we contemplate Jesus, Mary and Joseph in their ordinary life, they will teach us how to be like children before God and talk to Him personally.
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 1:313-8
• “Pessimism -- Turn to Our Lady -- the Mother, Daughter and Spouse of God, and our Mother -- and ask her to obtain more graces for you from the Blessed Trinity: the grace of faith, of hope, of love and of contrition. So that when it seems that a harsh dry wind is blowing in your life, threatening to wither those flowers of your soul, they will not wither -- and neither will those of your brothers.“ (St Josemaria Escrivá, (“The Forge”, 227)
• “You can! -- Do not abandon me, Lord. Don’t you see the bottomless pit this poor son of yours would end up in? My Mother: I am your son, too.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, (“The Forge”, 314)
• Dedication of Our Lady of Treves, in Germany, in the year 746, by Hydolph, Archbishop of Treves. The Princess Genevieve, wife of Syfrede, Palatine of Treves, and daughter of the Duke of Brahant, erected this church in a wood, on the very spot where Our Lady appeared to her, and assured her that her innocence should one day he acknowledged. (Bethlehem Observer Historical Calendar)
• “Madonna della Treviso”, Italy. 746. Appears to St Jerome Emiliani, 1530. ["Dedication of Our Lady of Treves, Germany, 746, by Hydolph, Archbishop of Treves. The Princess Genevieve (wife of Syfrede, Palatine of Treves, and daughter of the Duke of Brabant), erected this church in a wood, on the very spot where Our Lady appeared to her, and assured her that her innocence should one day be acknowledged. (Additions to Molanus, De sanctia Belgicis.") www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm
• Our Lady of Treves (Germany). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
• Our Lady of Treves, Italy (746). Appeared to St Jerome Emiliani, 1530. (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)
Monday, January 2, 2012
3 January 2012: Fidelity of the Magi in obeying the inspirations of Grace
Fidelity to grace presumes ‘promptness’ in following its inspirations. The Magi had wonderful fidelity. An interior voice made them understand the meaning of an extraordinarily bright star which attracted their intense interest.
Their excitement aroused, they immediately broke all ties and began to follow it. They could truly say to King Herod, “We have seen the star of the new-born King in the East, and we come to adore Him” (Mt 2:2).
We may have lost many graces by our delays in corresponding with the inspirations God has sent us. To delay is to neglect. How many times have we thought of doing an act of charity, paying a visit to the Blessed Sacrament, or some other good work; but we put it off?
Fidelity to grace also presumes ‘generosity’ -- conquering the difficulties and seeming futility that discourage our self-love which invites cowardice.
The Magi needed this generosity. Their journey was long, the weather severe, the roads rough. They knew not where the star would lead them; how long they would be away.
They also faced criticism and ridicule by their countrymen. Fully confident on who had called by these clear signs, nothing stopped them.
Why am I so often unfaithful to grace, to certain practices of piety and mortification, which I know so well are important? Is it because I fail in generosity, discouraged by the fear of imaginary difficulties?
Fidelity to grace is premised on perseverance as shown by the Magi. Nothing discouraged them -- even the disappearance of the star as they drew near to Jerusalem, or the extraordinary indifference of its inhabitants.
God rewarded their constancy. The star reappeared, and led them to our Divine Saviour. Beside the Holy Infant they found his Blessed Mother.
Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, 18-9
Confidence in God
God never comes late to the aid of his children. Even if all seems lost, God is always present; perhaps in secret and mysterious ways. Thus, complete confidence in God and availing of all human means gives the Christian great fortitude and peace amidst great trials.
“If you don’t abandon him, he will not abandon you.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 730)
“At the very moment when everything seems to be collapsing before our eyes, we realize that quite the opposite is true, ‘because you, Lord, are my strength’. (Ps 42:2) If God is dwelling in our soul, everything else, no matter how important it may seem, is accidental and transitory. ... we, in God, stand permanent and firm.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Friends of God”, 92)
St Paul comforted the first Christians in Rome who faced a panorama of difficulties: “If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, will he not also give us all things with him? ... Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors, through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus Our Lord.” (cf Rom 8:31-9)
St Thomas tells us: “Every man, no matter who he is, is God’s friend and should have great confidence in being freed by him from any type of affliction ... And as God helps his servants in a special way, he who serves God should live in great peace.” (St Thomas, “Explanation of the Apostles’ Creed”, 5) The only condition is, be friends of God and live as his children.
“We know that in everything God works for good.” (Rom, 8:28) Even our mistakes and deviations from the right path always end up well, for God “arranges absolutely everything to his own advantage ...” (St Augustine, “De corresp et gracia”, 30:35) The man who knows himself to be a son of God is always happy and never loses his peace of mind without turning away from reality. “This is the difference between us and those who do not know God: they, in adversity, complain and grumble; we, on the other hand, are not drawn away from virtue by the things that go against us but are strengthened in it.” (St Cyprian, “De moralitate”, 13)
Let us go close to Mary, whom we contemplate in the ‘stable’ close to her son. She will teach us how to conduct ourselves like children of God at all times.
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 1:271-5
The intercession of our Blessed Mother
We don’t ask the holy Kings for gold, frankincense or myrrh. It is more natural to ask them the way to Christ so daily we can bring to him our own gold, incense and myrrh. Let us ask “the Mother of God, our Mother, to prepare for us the way that leads to the fullness of love: Most sweet heart of Mary, prepare a safe way! Her sweet heart knows the surest path to find Christ.
“The three Kings had their star. We have Mary, ‘Stella Maris’, ‘Stella Orientis’, Star of the Sea, Star of the East.” (cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 38)
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 1:333
Mother of Christ
The Gospel passages about our Lady show her as the Mother of Jesus, following her Son step by step, playing a part in his redemptive mission, rejoicing and suffering with him, loving those whom Jesus loves, looking after all those around her with maternal care.
Just think, for example, of the marriage at Cana. Our Lady was a guest at one of those noisy country weddings attended by crowds of people from many different villages. But she was the only one who noticed the wine was running out. (cf Jn, 2:3) ... This scene from Christ’s life seems familiar.
The greatness of God lives at the level of ordinary things. It is natural for a housewife, to notice something was lacking, to look after the little things which make life pleasant.
That is how Mary acted. St John, the only evangelist who has recorded this example of our mother’s concern for us, wants us to remember that Mary was present at the beginning of the public life of our Lord.
Ref: Cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 141
• Our Lady of Beauraing. Our Lady appeared to five children at Beauraing, Belgium thirty-two times (19 November 1932 - 3 January 1933). On her last apparition, she said, “I am the Mother of God, the Queen of Heaven. Pray always!” (Ted and Maureen Flynn, “The Thunder of Justice”, 1993, p24) Approved (“Our Sunday Visitor’s Catholic Encyclopedia”, 1991, p121)
• Our Lady of Sichem, near Lonvain, in the duchy of Brabant. It is said that four drops of blood exuded from this statue in the year 1306. (Bethlehem Observer Historical Calendar)
• Our Lady of Sichem (Central Palestine) (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
["O Lady of Sichem, near Louvain, in duchy of Braban. ... said that four drops of blood exuded from this statue in 1306. (Justus Dipsius in his History of Sichem, chap 5.)"] www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm
• Our Lady of Sichem. Palestine 474. (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)
• Our Lady of Sichem, Belgium (474) (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html)
• The Bishop of Fatima Asks Sister Lucy for the Third Secret (1944) (http://mariedenazareth.com)
Their excitement aroused, they immediately broke all ties and began to follow it. They could truly say to King Herod, “We have seen the star of the new-born King in the East, and we come to adore Him” (Mt 2:2).
We may have lost many graces by our delays in corresponding with the inspirations God has sent us. To delay is to neglect. How many times have we thought of doing an act of charity, paying a visit to the Blessed Sacrament, or some other good work; but we put it off?
Fidelity to grace also presumes ‘generosity’ -- conquering the difficulties and seeming futility that discourage our self-love which invites cowardice.
The Magi needed this generosity. Their journey was long, the weather severe, the roads rough. They knew not where the star would lead them; how long they would be away.
They also faced criticism and ridicule by their countrymen. Fully confident on who had called by these clear signs, nothing stopped them.
Why am I so often unfaithful to grace, to certain practices of piety and mortification, which I know so well are important? Is it because I fail in generosity, discouraged by the fear of imaginary difficulties?
Fidelity to grace is premised on perseverance as shown by the Magi. Nothing discouraged them -- even the disappearance of the star as they drew near to Jerusalem, or the extraordinary indifference of its inhabitants.
God rewarded their constancy. The star reappeared, and led them to our Divine Saviour. Beside the Holy Infant they found his Blessed Mother.
Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, 18-9
Confidence in God
God never comes late to the aid of his children. Even if all seems lost, God is always present; perhaps in secret and mysterious ways. Thus, complete confidence in God and availing of all human means gives the Christian great fortitude and peace amidst great trials.
“If you don’t abandon him, he will not abandon you.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 730)
“At the very moment when everything seems to be collapsing before our eyes, we realize that quite the opposite is true, ‘because you, Lord, are my strength’. (Ps 42:2) If God is dwelling in our soul, everything else, no matter how important it may seem, is accidental and transitory. ... we, in God, stand permanent and firm.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Friends of God”, 92)
St Paul comforted the first Christians in Rome who faced a panorama of difficulties: “If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, will he not also give us all things with him? ... Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors, through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus Our Lord.” (cf Rom 8:31-9)
St Thomas tells us: “Every man, no matter who he is, is God’s friend and should have great confidence in being freed by him from any type of affliction ... And as God helps his servants in a special way, he who serves God should live in great peace.” (St Thomas, “Explanation of the Apostles’ Creed”, 5) The only condition is, be friends of God and live as his children.
“We know that in everything God works for good.” (Rom, 8:28) Even our mistakes and deviations from the right path always end up well, for God “arranges absolutely everything to his own advantage ...” (St Augustine, “De corresp et gracia”, 30:35) The man who knows himself to be a son of God is always happy and never loses his peace of mind without turning away from reality. “This is the difference between us and those who do not know God: they, in adversity, complain and grumble; we, on the other hand, are not drawn away from virtue by the things that go against us but are strengthened in it.” (St Cyprian, “De moralitate”, 13)
Let us go close to Mary, whom we contemplate in the ‘stable’ close to her son. She will teach us how to conduct ourselves like children of God at all times.
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 1:271-5
The intercession of our Blessed Mother
We don’t ask the holy Kings for gold, frankincense or myrrh. It is more natural to ask them the way to Christ so daily we can bring to him our own gold, incense and myrrh. Let us ask “the Mother of God, our Mother, to prepare for us the way that leads to the fullness of love: Most sweet heart of Mary, prepare a safe way! Her sweet heart knows the surest path to find Christ.
“The three Kings had their star. We have Mary, ‘Stella Maris’, ‘Stella Orientis’, Star of the Sea, Star of the East.” (cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 38)
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 1:333
Mother of Christ
The Gospel passages about our Lady show her as the Mother of Jesus, following her Son step by step, playing a part in his redemptive mission, rejoicing and suffering with him, loving those whom Jesus loves, looking after all those around her with maternal care.
Just think, for example, of the marriage at Cana. Our Lady was a guest at one of those noisy country weddings attended by crowds of people from many different villages. But she was the only one who noticed the wine was running out. (cf Jn, 2:3) ... This scene from Christ’s life seems familiar.
The greatness of God lives at the level of ordinary things. It is natural for a housewife, to notice something was lacking, to look after the little things which make life pleasant.
That is how Mary acted. St John, the only evangelist who has recorded this example of our mother’s concern for us, wants us to remember that Mary was present at the beginning of the public life of our Lord.
Ref: Cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 141
• Our Lady of Beauraing. Our Lady appeared to five children at Beauraing, Belgium thirty-two times (19 November 1932 - 3 January 1933). On her last apparition, she said, “I am the Mother of God, the Queen of Heaven. Pray always!” (Ted and Maureen Flynn, “The Thunder of Justice”, 1993, p24) Approved (“Our Sunday Visitor’s Catholic Encyclopedia”, 1991, p121)
• Our Lady of Sichem, near Lonvain, in the duchy of Brabant. It is said that four drops of blood exuded from this statue in the year 1306. (Bethlehem Observer Historical Calendar)
• Our Lady of Sichem (Central Palestine) (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
["O Lady of Sichem, near Louvain, in duchy of Braban. ... said that four drops of blood exuded from this statue in 1306. (Justus Dipsius in his History of Sichem, chap 5.)"] www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm
• Our Lady of Sichem. Palestine 474. (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)
• Our Lady of Sichem, Belgium (474) (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html)
• The Bishop of Fatima Asks Sister Lucy for the Third Secret (1944) (http://mariedenazareth.com)
Sunday, January 1, 2012
2 January 2012: The Faith of the Three Kings
“In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem, certain wise men from the East came to Jerusalem.” (Mt 2:1) Astrologers, “God called them by what was most familiar to them ... a marvellous star, so that it would attract their attention by its greatness and beauty”. (St John Chrysostom, “Homilies on St Matthew”, 6:3)
Nobody told them the star’s exact meaning; but they knew and immediately left. They received a very extraordinary inspiration as prophesied: “Lift up your eyes and look around, sons, come from far away.” (cf Isaiah 60:4)
They left behind their families, comfort, goods. The journey must have been very difficult, but they persevered on their way to adore God. These men teach us what we must do to reach Jesus.
“Sometimes we can be held up in following Jesus closely, lovingly -- by the fear of what people will say, that our acting may be extreme in some way ... these men gave us a lesson in bravery. ... not to heed human respect which paralyzes many who could already be close to Christ, living with Him.” (cf A M Doronsoro, “Time for belief”, 76-7)
On the feast of the Epiphany, let us ask Our Lord for a firm and solid faith on our journey so that we may be worthy of the gifts he has promised. As always, we will find our Blessed Mother very close to her Son, Jesus.
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 1:319-25
On employing Time well
To sanctify time, we must live in habitual grace and with a pure intention. Faith teaches that however holy an action may be, cannot earn eternal merit for whoever acts in a state of mortal sin. Thus, time passed as such is lost forever. What a miserable loss!
All our actions, good or indifferent, must have supernatural motives -- for God, in God’s sight. Men see only the exterior. God judges the intention. He will not reward what is not done for Him.
The Scribes and Pharisees did many good works, but for show and conceited popularity. Jesus Christ tells us, they will not be rewarded -- they will have lost their time and labor. We have reason to fear the loss, partly at least, of the merit of many of our good works; because vanity, the desire to please men, has been secretly mingled with our motives.
We do many good acts with an habitually pure intention; but these are done imperfectly, in a lukewarm way. One way is to form a habit of saying, ‘I wish to perform this action well’.
Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp12-4
The mission of parents
Pope John Paul II recalled the words of Pope Paul VI which parents should keep in mind whenever they contemplate the Holy Family devoutly reciting traditional prayers said in every Jewish home.
“Do you teach your children Christian prayers? Do you prepare them, in conjunction with the priests, for the sacraments they receive when they are young: Confession, Communion and Confirmation?
"Do you encourage them, when they are sick, to think of Christ suffering, to invoke the aid of the Blessed Virgin and the saints?
“Do you say the family Rosary together? Do you pray with your children, with the whole domestic community, at least sometimes?
Your example of honesty in thought and action, joined to some common prayer, is a lesson for life and an act of worship of singular value. In this way you bring peace to your homes. Thus you build up the Church.” (cf John Paul II, Apostolic Exhortation, “Familiaris consortio”, 60)
The family is a school of virtues and the ordinary place for us to find God. Husbands and wives “will achieve this aim by exercising the virtues of faith and hope, facing serenely all the great and small problems which confront any family, and will be persevering in the love and enthusiasm with which they fulfil their duties. They will learn to smile and forget about themselves in order to pay attention to others.
“Husband and wife will listen to each other and to their children, showing them they are really loved and understood. They will forget the unimportant little frictions which selfishness can magnify out of all proportion. They lovingly do all the small acts of service that make up their daily life together.
“The aim is this: to sanctify family life, while creating at the same time a true family atmosphere. Many Christian virtues are necessary in order to sanctify each day of one’s life. First, the theological virtues and then all the others: prudence, loyalty, sincerity, humility, industriousness, cheerfulness ...” (cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 23)
United to Christ, a family, called the ‘domestic Church’ is a member of his Mystical Body. (Second Vatican Council, “Lumen Gentium”, 11) “The Christian family proclaims aloud both the present power of the kingdom of God and the hope of the life to come.” (Ibid, 35)
Spouses faithful to their matrimonial vocation will pray for vocations for their children. “Mary spent nearly every day of her life like millions of other women who look after their families. ...” (St Josemaria Escrivá, op cit, 148)
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 1:231-3
Mother of Christians
The disciples, full of faith, prayed as a single family “with Mary, the mother of Jesus” (Acts 1:14). St Luke has the longest account of Jesus’ childhood as if he wanted us to understand that just as Mary had a major role in the incarnation of the Word, she was intimately involved in the beginning of the Church, Christ’s body.
From the first moment of the Church all Christians who have sought the love of God revealed in Jesus Christ have encountered our Lady and experienced her motherly care. She can truly be called the Mother of Christians. “With her charity she cooperates in the birth of the faithful to the Church and they are members of a head, of which she is effectively Mother in the flesh.” (St Augustine, “De Sancta virginitate”, 6 [PL 40, 399])
“We gather under your protection, holy Mother of God. Reject not the prayers we say to you in our need, but save us from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin.” (“Sub tuum praesidium ...” [‘We fly to your patronage ... in Litany of the Blessed Virgin’, Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias (editors), “Handbook of Prayers”, 1988, p286]
Ref: Cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, op cit, 141
• Our Lady of the Pillar (Saragossa, Spain) (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
• Foundation of the Abbey of Dunes, Flanders, in honor of the Blessed Virgin (1128). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)
• Foundation of the Abbey of Dunes, in Flanders, in honor of the Blessed Virgin, in the year 1128, by Fulk, a Benedictine monk. (Bethlehem Observer Historical Calendar)
• Abbey of Dunes (Abdij Ter Duinen) founded in honor of Mary. On the beach in Sint-Idesbald, Flanders, Belgium. 1128. New abbey built 1628–42 by Cistercian monks, and now a UNESCO world heritage site. Abbey itself lies in ruins, but is open to visitors. ... [...founded "in the year 1128, by Fulk, a Benedictine monk. (Chronicon Bertiennae.)"]. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• Memorial of Panaghia Portaitissa, the Holy Guardian of the Door of Mount Athos (http://mariedenazareth.com)
Nobody told them the star’s exact meaning; but they knew and immediately left. They received a very extraordinary inspiration as prophesied: “Lift up your eyes and look around, sons, come from far away.” (cf Isaiah 60:4)
They left behind their families, comfort, goods. The journey must have been very difficult, but they persevered on their way to adore God. These men teach us what we must do to reach Jesus.
“Sometimes we can be held up in following Jesus closely, lovingly -- by the fear of what people will say, that our acting may be extreme in some way ... these men gave us a lesson in bravery. ... not to heed human respect which paralyzes many who could already be close to Christ, living with Him.” (cf A M Doronsoro, “Time for belief”, 76-7)
On the feast of the Epiphany, let us ask Our Lord for a firm and solid faith on our journey so that we may be worthy of the gifts he has promised. As always, we will find our Blessed Mother very close to her Son, Jesus.
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 1:319-25
On employing Time well
To sanctify time, we must live in habitual grace and with a pure intention. Faith teaches that however holy an action may be, cannot earn eternal merit for whoever acts in a state of mortal sin. Thus, time passed as such is lost forever. What a miserable loss!
All our actions, good or indifferent, must have supernatural motives -- for God, in God’s sight. Men see only the exterior. God judges the intention. He will not reward what is not done for Him.
The Scribes and Pharisees did many good works, but for show and conceited popularity. Jesus Christ tells us, they will not be rewarded -- they will have lost their time and labor. We have reason to fear the loss, partly at least, of the merit of many of our good works; because vanity, the desire to please men, has been secretly mingled with our motives.
We do many good acts with an habitually pure intention; but these are done imperfectly, in a lukewarm way. One way is to form a habit of saying, ‘I wish to perform this action well’.
Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp12-4
The mission of parents
Pope John Paul II recalled the words of Pope Paul VI which parents should keep in mind whenever they contemplate the Holy Family devoutly reciting traditional prayers said in every Jewish home.
“Do you teach your children Christian prayers? Do you prepare them, in conjunction with the priests, for the sacraments they receive when they are young: Confession, Communion and Confirmation?
"Do you encourage them, when they are sick, to think of Christ suffering, to invoke the aid of the Blessed Virgin and the saints?
“Do you say the family Rosary together? Do you pray with your children, with the whole domestic community, at least sometimes?
Your example of honesty in thought and action, joined to some common prayer, is a lesson for life and an act of worship of singular value. In this way you bring peace to your homes. Thus you build up the Church.” (cf John Paul II, Apostolic Exhortation, “Familiaris consortio”, 60)
The family is a school of virtues and the ordinary place for us to find God. Husbands and wives “will achieve this aim by exercising the virtues of faith and hope, facing serenely all the great and small problems which confront any family, and will be persevering in the love and enthusiasm with which they fulfil their duties. They will learn to smile and forget about themselves in order to pay attention to others.
“Husband and wife will listen to each other and to their children, showing them they are really loved and understood. They will forget the unimportant little frictions which selfishness can magnify out of all proportion. They lovingly do all the small acts of service that make up their daily life together.
“The aim is this: to sanctify family life, while creating at the same time a true family atmosphere. Many Christian virtues are necessary in order to sanctify each day of one’s life. First, the theological virtues and then all the others: prudence, loyalty, sincerity, humility, industriousness, cheerfulness ...” (cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 23)
United to Christ, a family, called the ‘domestic Church’ is a member of his Mystical Body. (Second Vatican Council, “Lumen Gentium”, 11) “The Christian family proclaims aloud both the present power of the kingdom of God and the hope of the life to come.” (Ibid, 35)
Spouses faithful to their matrimonial vocation will pray for vocations for their children. “Mary spent nearly every day of her life like millions of other women who look after their families. ...” (St Josemaria Escrivá, op cit, 148)
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 1:231-3
Mother of Christians
The disciples, full of faith, prayed as a single family “with Mary, the mother of Jesus” (Acts 1:14). St Luke has the longest account of Jesus’ childhood as if he wanted us to understand that just as Mary had a major role in the incarnation of the Word, she was intimately involved in the beginning of the Church, Christ’s body.
From the first moment of the Church all Christians who have sought the love of God revealed in Jesus Christ have encountered our Lady and experienced her motherly care. She can truly be called the Mother of Christians. “With her charity she cooperates in the birth of the faithful to the Church and they are members of a head, of which she is effectively Mother in the flesh.” (St Augustine, “De Sancta virginitate”, 6 [PL 40, 399])
“We gather under your protection, holy Mother of God. Reject not the prayers we say to you in our need, but save us from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin.” (“Sub tuum praesidium ...” [‘We fly to your patronage ... in Litany of the Blessed Virgin’, Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias (editors), “Handbook of Prayers”, 1988, p286]
Ref: Cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, op cit, 141
• Our Lady of the Pillar (Saragossa, Spain) (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
• Foundation of the Abbey of Dunes, Flanders, in honor of the Blessed Virgin (1128). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)
• Foundation of the Abbey of Dunes, in Flanders, in honor of the Blessed Virgin, in the year 1128, by Fulk, a Benedictine monk. (Bethlehem Observer Historical Calendar)
• Abbey of Dunes (Abdij Ter Duinen) founded in honor of Mary. On the beach in Sint-Idesbald, Flanders, Belgium. 1128. New abbey built 1628–42 by Cistercian monks, and now a UNESCO world heritage site. Abbey itself lies in ruins, but is open to visitors. ... [...founded "in the year 1128, by Fulk, a Benedictine monk. (Chronicon Bertiennae.)"]. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• Memorial of Panaghia Portaitissa, the Holy Guardian of the Door of Mount Athos (http://mariedenazareth.com)
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