Shepherds of Christ Daily Writing          

November 18, 2014

November 19th Holy Spirit Novena
 Scripture selection is Day 4 Period I.

The Novena Rosary Mysteries 
for November 19th are Sorrowful.

 

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                November 18, 2014

                R. The World, the Flesh and the devil –

                The devil is the father of lies –

                The devil is real –

  

Excerpt of The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, by Louis J. Puhl, S.J.
 

136. THE FOURTH DAY

        A MEDITATION ON TWO STANDARDS

The one of Christ, our supreme leader and lord,
the other of Lucifer, the deadly enemy of our
human nature

PRAYER.   The usual preparatory prayer.

window at a former Jesuit Seminary

137. FIRST PRELUDE.   This is the history. Here it will be that Christ calls and wants all beneath His standard, and Lucifer, on the other hand, wants all under his.

138. SECOND PRELUDE.   This is a mental representation of the place. It will be here to see a great plain, comprising the whole region about Jerusalem, where the sovereign Commander-in-Chief of all the good is Christ our Lord; and another plain about the region of Babylon, where the chief of the enemy is Lucifer.

139. THIRD PRELUDE.   This is to ask for what I desire. Here it will be to ask for a knowledge of the deceits of the rebel chief and help to guard myself against them; and also to ask for a knowledge of the true life exemplified in the sovereign and true Commander, and the grace to imitate Him.
   

FIRST PART

THE STANDARD OF SATAN

140. FIRST POINT.   Imagine you see the chief of all the enemy in the vast plain about Babylon, seated on a great throne of fire and smoke, his appearance inspiring horror and terror.

141. SECOND POINT.   Consider how he summons innumerable demons, and scatters them, some to one city and some to another, throughout the whole world, so that no province, no place, no state of life, no individual is overlooked.

142. THIRD POINT.   Consider the address he makes to them, how he goads them on to lay snares for men and bind them with chains. First they are to tempt them to covet riches (as Satan himself is accustomed to do in most cases) that they may the more easily attain the empty honors of this world, and then come to overweening pride.

   The first step, then, will be riches, the second honor, the third pride. From these three steps the evil one leads to all other vices.
   

SECOND PART

THE STANDARD OF CHRIST

143.   In a similar way, we are to picture to ourselves the sovereign and true Commander, Christ our Lord.

144. FIRST POINT.   Consider Christ our Lord, standing in a lowly place in a great plain about the region of Jerusalem, His appearance beautiful and attractive.

145. SECOND POINT.   Consider how the Lord of all the world chooses so many persons, apostles, disciples, etc., and sends them throughout the whole world to spread His sacred doctrine among all men, no matter what their state or condition.

146. THIRD POINT.   . . .
   

end of excerpt of The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius

 

                R. The devil we see in Genesis. 

Genesis 3: 1-11

Now, the snake was the most subtle of all the wild animals that Yahweh God had made. It asked the woman, 'Did God really say you were not to eat from any of the trees in the garden?' The woman answered the snake, 'We may eat the fruit of the trees in the garden. But of the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden God said, "You must not eat it, nor touch it, under pain of death." ' Then the snake said to the woman, 'No! You will not die! God knows in fact that the day you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods, knowing good from evil.' The woman saw that the tree was good to eat and pleasing to the eye, and that it was enticing for the wisdom that it could give. So she took some of its fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened and they realised that they were naked. So they sewed fig-leaves together to make themselves loin-cloths.

The man and his wife heard the sound of Yahweh God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from Yahweh God among the trees of the garden. But Yahweh God called to the man. 'Where are you?' he asked. 'I heard the sound of you in the garden,' he replied. 'I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.' 'Who told you that you were naked?' he asked. 'Have you been eating from the tree I forbade you to eat?'

 

                R. We see Cain murdered his brother –
   

Genesis 4: 6-7

Yahweh asked Cain, ‘Why are you angry and downcast? If you are doing right, surely you ought to hold your head high! But if you are not doing right, Sin is crouching at the door hungry to get you. You can still master him.’

 

                R. The devil lies to the soul to try to seduce
                    it into a temptation.

                We see the scripture the first Sunday of
                    Lent where satan tried to
                    tempt the Lord.
   

Matthew 4: 1-11

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit out into the desert to be put to the test by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, after which he was hungry, and the tester came and said to him, ‘If you are Son of God, tell these stones to turn into loaves.’ But he replied, ‘Scripture says: 

    Human beings live not on bread alone 
    but on every word 
        that comes from the mouth of God.’ 

The devil then took him to the holy city and set him on the parapet of the Temple. ‘If you are Son of God,’ he said, ‘throw yourself down; for scripture says: 

    He has given his angels orders about you, 
    and they will carry you in their arms 
    in case you trip over a stone.’ 

Jesus said to him, ‘Scripture also says: 

    Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ 

Next, taking him to a very high mountain, the devil showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. And he said to him, ‘I will give you all these, if you fall at my feet and do me homage.’ Then Jesus replied, ‘Away with you, Satan! For scripture says: 

    The Lord your God is the one 
        to whom you must do homage, 
    him alone you must serve.’ 

Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels appeared and looked after him.

 

                R. In the Our Father we end with
                    "... and lead us not into temptation"

                The devil is real, we must fight
                    to resist his temptations –

   

1 Peter 5: 5-8

In the same way, younger people, be subject to the elders. Humility towards one another must be the garment you all wear constantly, because God opposes the proud but accords his favour to the humble. Bow down, then, before the power of God now, so that he may raise you up in due time; unload all your burden on to him, since he is concerned about you. Keep sober and alert, because your enemy the devil is on the prowl like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

 


   

                Priestly Newsletter III 2000 - Issue 1

The Eucharist

9. St. John Vianney, "Sermon for Holy Thursday", in Eucharistic Meditations, Source Books, as in Adoration, Ignatius Press, pp. 92-93.

   

Prayer for Union with Jesus

Come to me, Lord, and possess my soul. Come into my heart and permeate my soul. Help me to sit in silence with You and let You work in my heart.

    I am Yours to possess. I am Yours to use. I want to be selfless and only exist in You. Help me to spoon out all that is me and be an empty vessel ready to be filled by You. Help me to die to myself and live only for You. Use me as You will. Let me never draw my attention back to myself. I only want to operate as You do, dwelling within me.

    I am Yours, Lord. I want to have my life in You. I want to do the will of the Father. Give me the strength to put aside the world and let You operate my very being. Help me to act as You desire. Strengthen me against the distractions of the devil to take me from Your work.

    When I worry, I have taken my focus off of You and placed it on myself. Help me not to give in to the promptings of others to change what in my heart You are making very clear to me. I worship You, I adore You and I love You. Come and dwell in me now.

-God's Blue Book, January 17, 1994

 

 

                Guiding Light - Feed My Soul - Cycle C Homilies - by Fr. Joe Robinson

Baptism of the Lord - January 8, 2007 

INTRODUCTION: Today’s first reading is closely connected with Jesus’ baptism.  This first reading was written over 500 years before Christ.  It is a mysterious passage in that scholars do not know who the prophet was writing about.  But in hindsight, we can see how perfectly Jesus fulfilled this description of God's servant.  The words that introduce our first reading are directly connected with the account of Jesus’ baptism.  In our first reading God introduces his servant in this way: “Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am well pleased.”  And it is on this servant that God has put his spirit.  God's words at Jesus’ baptism are almost exactly the same except for one word that is changed.  At Jesus’ baptism,  God speaks of Jesus as his Son.  And upon Jesus God the Father sends the Spirit.  We have here something more than just an introduction of God's Son to the world and his being empowered by the Spirit.  The words of the Father also gave direction to Jesus’ future work.  Jesus was being called for the victory of justice.  He was to be a covenant of the people, a light for the nations as described in this servant passage from Isaiah. 

 

Colossians 1: 12-20

giving thanks with joy to the Father who has made you able to share the lot of God’s holy people and with them to inherit the light. 

    Because that is what he has done. It is he who has rescued us from the ruling force of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son that he loves, and in him we enjoy our freedom, the forgiveness of sin.

I: FORMAL INSTRUCTION

Christ is the head of all creation

He is the image of the unseen God, 
the first–born of all creation, 
for in him were created all things 
in heaven and on earth: 
everything visible 
    and everything invisible, 
thrones, ruling forces, 
    sovereignties, powers—
all things were created through him 
    and for him. 
He exists before all things 
and in him all things hold together, 
and he is the Head of the Body, 
that is, the Church. 

He is the Beginning, 
the first–born from the dead, 
so that he should be supreme in every way; 
because God wanted all fullness 
    to be found in him 
and through him 
    to reconcile all things to him, 
everything in heaven 
    and everything on earth, 
by making peace through his death 
    on the cross.

 

Acts 10: 34-38

Then Peter addressed them, ‘I now really understand’, he said, ‘that God has no favourites, but that anybody of any nationality who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.

    ‘God sent his word to the people of Israel, and it was to them that the good news of peace was brought by Jesus Christ—he is the Lord of all. You know what happened all over Judaea, how Jesus of Nazareth began in Galilee, after John had been preaching baptism. God had anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and because God was with him, Jesus went about doing good and curing all who had fallen into the power of the devil.

 

   

                R. Spiritual Blindness
                    comes from the
                    deadly sins

                SLOTHFULNESS

                    is practicing not answering God

                LUST - Something else becomes more
                                important than God.

                Lust - Blinds   Spiritual Blindness

                So he does not taste the
                    intimacy of being deeply
                    united in the spirit –
                    His focus is the flesh –

                A person engaging in lust is
                    opposing God's will.

                Slothfulness is spiritual laziness –
                    the person, too, opposed the
                    will of God, by refusing
                    to choose what God
                    asks Him to do –

                He further is blinded
                    by the fact –
                    he choose to not act
                    and therefore when
                    God knocks for him
                    to act –
   

 

                R. He refuses to act –
                    this is a choice

                Slothfulness is practicing this
                    inactivity to God's knocking
                    at the door – day after day –
                    hour after hour –
                    practicing holding out –
                    practicing inactivity to God's call –

                Where the man of faith –
                    IS NOT BLINDED
                    with Spiritual Blindness

                But sees more and more through the
                    eyes of faith –
                    Sees through the Father's
                    vision

                A man of Faith is engaging in
                    Good habits –
                    He is preparing for the
                    beatific vision –
   

Romans 8: 5-9

Those who are living by their natural inclinations have their minds on the things human nature desires; those who live in the Spirit have their minds on spiritual things. And human nature has nothing to look forward to but death, while the Spirit looks forward to life and peace, because the outlook of disordered human nature is opposed to God, since it does not submit to God's Law, and indeed it cannot, and those who live by their natural inclinations can never be pleasing to God. You, however, live not by your natural inclinations, but by the Spirit, since the Spirit of God has made a home in you. Indeed, anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

 

1 John 4: 17-21

Love comes to its perfection in us when we can face the Day of Judgement fearlessly, because even in this world we have become as he is. In love there is no room for fear, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear implies punishment and no one who is afraid has come to perfection in love. Let us love, then, because he first loved us. Anyone who says 'I love God' and hates his brother, is a liar, since whoever does not love the brother whom he can see cannot love God whom he has not seen. Indeed this is the commandment we have received from him, that whoever loves God, must also love his brother.

  

                R. The deadly sins
                    have been called
                    that for so many
                    years –

                If you give into
                    pride
                    anger
                    slothfulness
                    lust
                    gluttony
                    envy
                    jealousy –

                You become more and more
                    spiritually blind –

                Dead in spirit
                Non-responsive to God
                    knocking, calling you
 


 

                R. In the Religious Orders

                    God calls religious

                Some take the vow of
                    poverty
                    chastity
                    and obedience

                Chastity

                    abstinence for the religious

                In virginity men and women
                    abstain from sexual
                    pleasures - entirely –

                Poverty
                Chastity
                    and
                Obedience
                have been practiced by
                    many religious
                    orders - through out
                    the existence of
                    the Church –

                The vice
                    opposed to
                    chastity and virginity
                    is lust

                In marriage men and women
                    are given special
                    gifts to exercise
                    sexual practices –

                In the religious life a
                    person who is
                    celibate is to see
                    themselves as married
                    to God
                    and gives to God the
                    spiritual affections
                    of their love in
                    a high form – to
                    love God - deeply and
                    spiritually

                The Franciscans
                    have 3 knots to
                    remind them of their
                    vows of

                poverty
                chastity                    VOWS
                and obedience

                Religious

               
               Peace is the tranquility
                    of order –

                Gluttony –

                    We are given food to
                eat. We are to ask
                ourselves do we
                eat to live or
                live to eat?

                Over indulgence of
                    these appetites
                    cause a deadness
                    in responsiveness
                    to God's call.
   

 
 

                Jesus: My time is My time –

Acts 1: 6-9

Now having met together, they asked him, 'Lord, has the time come for you to restore the kingdom to Israel?' He replied, 'It is not for you to know times or dates that the Father has decided by his own authority, but you will receive the power of the Holy Spirit which will come on you, and then you will be my witnesses not only in Jerusalem but throughout Judaea and Samaria, and indeed to earth's remotest end.'

As he said this he was lifted up while they looked on, and a cloud took him from their sight.

 

                R. The Father does not
                    reveal times like
                    this scripture –

                We see the sun is there and
                    a flower looks to the
                    sun for light –

                We see God gives us instructions

                    The 10 Commandments 


 

                R. The sermon on the Mount
                    justice
                    meekness – not being combatal
                    piety - religious devotion –
                        spirituality

                Seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are
                    Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel,
                    Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety
                    and Fear of the Lord.
 

                 
                Jesus: Say the Holy Spirit Novena I gave
                    you with heartfelt
                    love – sensitivity

                R. Piety - A HABIT
                    to do always that which
                    is pleasing to God

                The flower goes to the sun –

                Man turns to God
                    to the Eucharist
   

               

R. The Holy Spirit can give to us
       the gift of knowledge,
       wisdom, understanding,
       counsel, fortitude,
       piety and fear of the Lord –
       if we ask Him and seek these gifts.

                Fear of the Lord – Hope
                    we desire to not offend God
                    out of love!!
   

Holy Spirit Novena

Daily Novena Prayers

Opening Prayer

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Dear Father, we come to You in the name of Jesus, in union with Him in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, in the Holy Spirit. We come to You united to the Child Jesus of Good Health and the Infant of Prague. We come to You in the perfect, sinless heart of Our Mother Mary, asking her powerful intercession, uniting ourselves to her holy tears. We come to You united to all the angels and saints, and the souls in purgatory.

Prayer for Holy Spirit

We pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on us, to be baptized by the Holy Spirit, that He will descend mightily on us as He did on the Apostles at Pentecost. That the Holy Spirit will transform us from fear to fearlessness and that He will give us courage to do all the Father is asking of us to help bring about the Reign of the Sacred Heart and the triumph of Mary's Immaculate Heart. We pray for the Holy Spirit to descend mightily on the Jesuits and the Poor Clares on the Shepherds of Christ leaders and members and on the whole Body of Christ and the world.

Protection by the Blood of Jesus

We pray that the Blood of Jesus will be spread on us, everyone in our families, and the Shepherds of Christ Movement, that we will be able to move steadfastly ahead and be protected from the evil one.

Healing

We pray for healing in body, mind, and soul and generational healing in ourselves, in all members in our families, and in all members of the Shepherds of Christ Movement, the Jesuit Community, the Poor Clares, the Body of Christ, and the world.

Prayer for Strength and Light

We adore You, oh Holy Spirit. Give us strength, give us light, console us. We give ourselves entirely to You. Oh Spirit of light and grace, we want to only do the will of the Father. Enlighten us that we may live always in the Father's will.

Eternal Spirit fill us with Your Divine Wisdom that we may comprehend more fully insight into Your Divine Mysteries.

Give us lights, Oh Holy Spirit that we may know God. Work within the heart, the spiritual womb of the Virgin Mary, to form us more and more into the image of Jesus.

Prayer to Be One with God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit

We long for You, Oh Spirit of Light, we long to know God, we want to be one with Him, our Divine God. We want to be one with the Father, know Him as a Person most intimately. We want to know the beloved One, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and live and dwell in Him at all times, every moment of our lives. We want to be one with You, Oh Spirit of Light, that You move in us in our every breath.

Prayer to Be One in Jesus

Let us experience life in the Sacred Heart of Jesus, so we can say as Saint Paul, "I have been crucified with Christ and yet I am alive; yet it is no longer I, but Christ living in me...." Let us live, united to the Mass, all through the day being one in Him. Let us be able to love and know in this elevated state of oneness with our God. We long for Thee, oh beauteous God, we love You, we love You, we love You. We praise You, worship You, honor You, adore You, and thank You, our beloved God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Prayer to Dwell in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

We seek to be one in God, to live and dwell in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, our little heaven on earth, to experience life in the all perfect, pure, sinless heart of our Mother. We want the Holy Spirit to move in us and to be united to Jesus as the Bridegroom of our souls and be a most perfect sacrifice offered to the Father at every moment as we unite in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass around the world to help in the salvation of souls.

Prayer for the Holy Spirit and His Gifts

Come Holy Spirit, come, come into our hearts, inflame all people with the fire of Your love.

Leader: Send forth Your Spirit and all will be reborn.
All:  And You will renew the face of the earth.

We pray for the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, we ask for perfection in our souls to make us holy, holy souls likened to God.

Dear Holy Spirit, we give ourselves to You soul and body. We ask You to give us the Spirit of Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord.

Prayer for the Word Alive in Our Hearts

We know, dear Holy Spirit, the Word in His human nature was brought forth within the womb of the woman. We pray that His word will be brought forth in our hearts as He lives and dwells in us. We want the incarnation to go on in our lives. Dear Holy Spirit, work in us.

Little Prayers to the Holy Spirit

Dear Holy Spirit, help us not to be ignorant or indifferent or weak, help us to be strong with the love of God.

Dear Holy Spirit, please pray for our needs for us.

Dear Holy Spirit, help us to respect God and to avoid sin. Help us to live in the Father's will.

Dear Holy Spirit, help us to keep Your commandments and to respect authority. Help us to love all things as You will us to love them. Help us to want to pray and always serve God with the greatest love. Help us to know the truth. Help us to have the gift of faith, hope, and love. Help us to know what is right and what is wrong.

A Prayer for Intimacy with the Lamb, the Bridegroom of the Soul

Oh Lamb of God, Who take away the sins of the world, come and act on my soul most intimately. I surrender myself, as I ask for the grace to let go, to just be as I exist in You and You act most intimately on my soul. You are the Initiator. I am the soul waiting Your favors as You act in me. I love You. I adore You. I worship You. Come and possess my soul with Your Divine Grace, as I experience You most intimately.

                end of excerpt

 

                R. We see the apostles before the
                    coming of the Holy Spirit –
   

John 14: 16-17, 25-26

I shall ask the Father,
and he will give you another Paraclete
to be with you for ever,
the Spirit of truth
whom the world can never accept
since it neither sees nor know him;
but you know him,
because he is with you, he is in you.

I have said these things to you
while still with you;
but the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit,
whom the Father will send in my name,
will teach you everything
and remind you of all I have said to you.

    

                R. After Pentecost the Apostles
                    were fearless!

                We need the Holy Spirit and his gifts
                    active in us –

                The deadly sins –
                    makes us spiritually blind –
                    they are bad habits that
                    deaden our responses –

                In slothfulness the person
                    lives being spiritually
                    unresponsive – holding out
                    what God wants of him –

                It is a willful bad habit!

                We see Peter's earthly - mindedness
                    before Pentecost –
                    We see Peter after the
                    coming of the Holy Spirit.
   

 

                R. Weak and cowardly –
                    the Apostles were afraid –
                    they slept in the Garden
                    they ran away – they
                    were afraid –

                    They locked themselves up
                        after the Resurrection –

                    Thomas doubted!

                    LACK of Faith –

                Then the Holy Spirit came upon them.

  

 

Acts 2: 1-4
When Pentecost day came round, they had all met together, when suddenly there came from heaven a sound as of a violent wind which filled the entire house in which they were sitting; and there appeared to them tongues as of fire; these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak different languages as the Spirit gave them power to express themselves.

 

                R. Peter's sermon.

Acts 2: 14-36

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven and addressed them in a loud voice: 

    ‘Men of Judaea, and all you who live in Jerusalem, make no mistake about this, but listen carefully to what I say. These men are not drunk, as you imagine; why, it is only the third hour of the day. On the contrary, this is what the prophet was saying: 

In the last days—the Lord declares—
I shall pour out my Spirit on all humanity. 
Your sons and daughters shall prophesy, 
your young people shall see visions, 
your old people dream dreams. 
Even on the slaves, men and women, 
shall I pour out my Spirit. 
I will show portents in the sky above 
and signs on the earth below. 
The sun will be turned into darkness 
and the moon into blood 
before the day of the Lord comes, 
that great and terrible Day. 
And all who call on the name of the Lord 
    will be saved.

    ‘Men of Israel, listen to what I am going to say: Jesus the Nazarene was a man commended to you by God by the miracles and portents and signs that God worked through him when he was among you, as you know. This man, who was put into your power by the deliberate intention and foreknowledge of God, you took and had crucified and killed by men outside the Law. But God raised him to life, freeing him from the pangs of Hades; for it was impossible for him to be held in its power since, as David says of him: 

    I kept the Lord before my sight always, 
    for with him at my right hand 
        nothing can shake me. 
    So my heart rejoiced 
    my tongue delighted; 
    my body, too, will rest secure, 
    for you will not abandon me to Hades 
    or allow your holy one to see corruption. 
    You have taught me the way of life, 
    you will fill me with joy in your presence.

    ‘Brothers, no one can deny that the patriarch David himself is dead and buried: his tomb is still with us. But since he was a prophet, and knew that God had sworn him an oath to make one of his descendants succeed him on the throne, he spoke with foreknowledge about the resurrection of the Christ: he is the one who was not abandoned to Hades, and whose body did not see corruption. God raised this man Jesus to life, and of that we are all witnesses. Now raised to the heights by God's right hand, he has received from the Father the Holy Spirit, who was promised, and what you see and hear is the outpouring of that Spirit. For David himself never went up to heaven, but yet he said:

    The Lord declared to my Lord,
    take your seat at my right hand,
    till I have made your enemies
    your footstool.

    ‘For this reason the whole House of Israel can be certain that the Lord and Christ whom God has made is this Jesus whom you crucified.’

Hearing this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘What are we to do, brothers?’ ‘You must repent,’ Peter answered, ‘and every one of you must be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise that was made is for you and your children, and for all those who are far away, for all those whom the Lord our God is calling to himself.’ He spoke to them for a long time using many other arguments, and he urged them, ‘Save yourselves from this perverse generation.’

   

                R. We see the Martyrs who
                    built up the Church
                    who shed their blood –

                They were courageous

                We can pray to the Holy Spirit to
                    dwell in us –
                    give us His gifts –
                    Strengthen us –

                God dwells in our graced,
                    baptized soul.

            

           From Tell My People by Fr. Edward J. Carter, S.J.       

The Holy Spirit

Jesus: "My beloved friend, tell My people to pray daily to the Holy Spirit. They are to pray for an increase in His gifts. My people must realize that the Holy Spirit comes to transform them. The Spirit desires to transform you more and more according to My image. Those who are docile to His touch become increasingly shaped in My likeness. He performs this marvel within Mary's Immaculate Heart. The more one dwells in My Mother's Heart, the more active are the workings of the Spirit. The Spirit leads Mary to place you within My own Heart. In both Our Hearts, then, your transformation continues. The more you are formed after My own Heart, the more I lead you to the bosom of My Father. Tell My people all this. Tell them to pray daily for a greater appreciation of these wondrous gifts. I am Lord and Master. All who come to My Heart will be on fire to receive the gifts of the Spirit in ever greater measure! I love and bless My people!"

Reflection: The Holy Spirit is given to us to fashion us ever more according to the likeness of Jesus. And the more we are like Jesus, the more Jesus leads us to the Father. Do we, each day, pray to the Holy Spirit to be more open to His transforming influence? Do we strive each day to grow in union with Mary? The greater our union with our Mother, the spouse of the Holy Spirit, the greater is the transforming action of the Holy Spirit within us.

end of excerpt

   

November 4, 2013

   

Excerpt from the Mass Book

December 17, 1995

THE EARTH STOPPED AND TOUCHED HEAVEN

    I long to unite in the deepest union with Him in the Eucharist. I long for the Mass. I long for Thee, oh God. My every moment, I join as I did to You December 15 under the cross, where I felt Your presence. You whisked me away, and I was totally absorbed in that moment of celestial union with You. For that time, I existed only in You, in the deepest union, and I was in this moment existing in You. The earth stopped, and I touched the heavens, all my bodily cares were existent in You. I existed in Your Divinity, my being was in You. There was no desire or wish or wanting, for in that moment, I had all I wanted in You. I was satisfied and wanted nothing but to remain in that embrace. You were the Being, and my being existed in You, but I was only as I was in You - merged in You, knowing and being in Your Divinity and being so full as to feel complete in myself.

    You are so enormous, and You surrounded me in a burning embrace, the presence of red fire. I was not little, or "nothing", but existed in this enormous power and being so complete!

    I touched eternity, and in that embrace, I knew all the waiting was worth the glory. You enveloped my being, and I was truly merged in the Divine Presence. I was merged in Your being. I existed IN You, with You, in the highest union with You, although I knew I was still distinct from You.

    I was fused and absorbed in You, feeling complete and satisfied. To describe this union is far beyond any work of my pen and paper. I pray for the reader of this page to receive the grace to share this experience with Him, I will now live for this union-to be forever merged In Him, to be One in Him, to reach higher perfection as I exist in Him, for He takes the lowly and gives to them a sharing in Himself. He merges with us and we exist in Him. The word "in" - I could write pages about. I long for the deepest union with Him, where I am swept up in the heavenly embrace of the Divine God, and I am IN Him.

    This is heaven on earth: to be merged as one with Divinity, although remaining distinct from God, to take our feeble hearts, our lowly status and to unite ourselves with the Divine, Almighty, powerful God and in this union to be meshed with Him, that His power dominates and our humanity reaches its heights of fulfillment in this union, in this oneness with Him.

    The word I have looked for is "oneness." I understand some of the meaning of the words "One in Him." Oneness is the word to describe this union of our humanity with His Divinity. The depth to which we could meditate on oneness with God is incomprehensible. In that moment, the earth stood still, and He, my Divine Lover, the Bridegroom of my soul, took me to Himself, and I knew the embrace of the Divine God.

    Nothing on the face of this earth can describe our union with Divinity. Oh, good God, that creatures are so ungrateful regarding Your divine love. I am so sorry. Let me help make reparation to Your adorable Heart. Please unite with me now that I may more deeply love Thee.

    Oh, Divine Lover of my soul, let me help make reparation to Your adorable Heart for the neglect and indifference against You.

Song from Jesus: I come to you with greatest love. I am your loving Savior. I am your God. I died for you. I come to you this day.

    He allowed me to experience such pain in my heart - wanting Him so badly, so many times-and then on Dec. 15, 1995 - He gave Himself to me in the deepest union.

    Nothing satisfies the soul but Him. He wants the nuns and priests to love Him. He chose them to spread His love.

    Souls are hungry. They will only be fed with His burning love. Priests need to talk about Jesus' love for us from the pulpit. Priests need hearts burning for love of Jesus. This will feed the hungry souls - lip service love doesn't do it.

    He is alive today. He is a Person. He wants us to love Him.

end of December 17, 1995

   

                R. The Holy Spirit is our friend
                The Holy Spirit is our Advocate –

                In baptism we receive a
                    sharing in God's life –

                    His life in us – is grace

                Song: I Love You Jesus

                Song: God's Love

 

                 

Matthew 11: 25

At that time Jesus exclaimed, 'I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to little children.

    


   

                R. Devotion to the Blessed Sacrament –

                    Sacredness

                Devotion to the Sacred Heart
                Devotion to Mary

                Practice of virtues –
                    kindness, helping others,
                    love

                The Holy Spirit counsels us how to
                    be like Jesus

                NO HARD HEARTS

                Jesus is ALIVE IN us –

                We put on Christ –

                We live the Christ-life
                    in the Holy Spirit –

                We are witnesses for Christ!

                In Confirmation we have
                    renewed faith from
                    Baptism –
                    we become strong
                    soldiers of Jesus Christ.

                The Bishop puts his hands
                    on us!!

                We are anointed with
                    Holy Oil –

                Sing: He Has Anointed Me

                We are to reach more and more
                Christian maturity on earth
                    in our lives. Strive for this –
                    pray for this.
                We are to reach more perfect
                happiness, as we grow
                in the spiritual life –
                this happiness is a foretaste
                of the life to come –
                when we are possessed by God
                    in heaven.

   

Matthew 5: 1-12

How blessed are the poor in spirit:
the kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
Blessed are the gentle:
they shall have the earth as inheritance.
Blessed are those who mourn:
they shall be comforted.
Blessed are those
   who hunger and thirst for uprightness:
they shall have their fill.
Blessed are the merciful:
they shall have mercy shown them.
Blessed are the pure in heart:
they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers:
they shall be recognised
   as children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted
   in the cause of uprightness:
the kingdom of Heaven is theirs.  

Blessed are you when people abuse you and persecute you and
speak all kinds of calumny against you falsely on my account.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven; this
is how they persecuted the prophets before you. 

   

John 15: 1-8

I am the true vine,
and my Father is the vinedresser.
Every branch in me that bears no fruit
he cuts away,
and every branch that does bear fruit
     he prunes
to make it bear even more.
You are clean already,
by means of the word
     that I have spoken to you.
Remain in me, as I in you.
As a branch cannot bear fruit all by itself,
unless it remains part of the vine,
neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine,
you are the branches.
Whoever remains in me, with me in him,
bears fruit in plenty;
for cut off from me you can do nothing.
Anyone who does not remain in me
is thrown away like a branch
—and withers;
these branches are collected
     and thrown on the fire
and are burnt.
If you remain in me
and my words remain in you,
you may ask for whatever you please
and you will get it.
It is to the glory of my Father
      that you should bear much fruit
and be my disciples. 

   

                R. Religious Life

                A person called to religious life is to
                    seek greater perfection in
                    their spiritual life –
                    They are to live in communities
                        and live under the vows
                        of poverty, chastity and
                        obedience.

                There are priests, sisters,
                    brothers that are
                    religious.

                In the Gospel –
                    Jesus said –
                    if you are perfect - sell
                    what you have and give
                    to the poor –

                This denotes the call of religious
                    to strive to be more and
                    more perfected in the
                    spiritual life – 

Matthew 19: 21

Jesus said, 'If you wish to be perfect, go and sell your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.'

  

                R. Christ asks religious to give
                    up their own wills and
                    to be obedient to a
                    superior.

                Christ also told us this:
   

Matthew 19: 12

There are eunuchs born so from their mother's womb, there are eunuchs made so by human agency and there are eunuchs who have made themselves so for the sake of the kingdom of Heaven. Let anyone accept this who can.'

 

                R. A religious considers themselves
                    married to Christ.

                R. Prayer we say on 13th for
                    Servants
                    for Handmaids
                    for Apostles
                    for Associates
   

 

 


Commitment Prayer

    "I want to be an Associate of
        the Sacred Heart for the
        Shepherds of Christ Movement.

    I thank God for His gifts to me
       and I want to serve and love
       God in this Movement.

    God help me to do Your will
        always and help me to spread
        this message and these prayers
        to the world. Help me to spread
        Your peace.

    Help me to be an instrument of
        love.

    Outpour your grace to me for
        this vocation in the Shepherds
        of Christ Movement."

                                 October 13, 2003

 

 

A Prayer for Intimacy with the Lamb, the Bridegroom of the Soul

     Oh Lamb of God, Who take away the sins of the world, come and act on my soul most intimately. I surrender myself, as I ask for the grace to let go, to just be as I exist in You and You act most intimately on my soul. You are the Initiator. I am the soul waiting Your favors as You act in me. I love You. I adore You. I worship You. Come and possess my soul with Your Divine Grace, as I experience You most intimately.

   

                R. We need vocations for men and
                    women dedicating their
                    lives –
                    married to Christ –
                    praying for the Church and
                        the world –

                It is a sacrifice to give one's life –

                One must not try to change what
                    religious life is for – to
                    bend any rules.

                Religious life is to draw one
                    to greater perfection
                    in the spiritual life –
                    not be satisfied here below.

                We need to die to selfish ways.

   

Prayer for Union with Jesus

Come to me, Lord, and possess my soul. Come into my heart and permeate my soul. Help me to sit in silence with You and let You work in my heart.

    I am Yours to possess. I am Yours to use. I want to be selfless and only exist in You. Help me to spoon out all that is me and be an empty vessel ready to be filled by You. Help me to die to myself and live only for You. Use me as You will. Let me never draw my attention back to myself. I only want to operate as You do, dwelling within me.

    I am Yours, Lord. I want to have my life in You. I want to do the will of the Father. Give me the strength to put aside the world and let You operate my very being. Help me to act as You desire. Strengthen me against the distractions of the devil to take me from Your work.

    When I worry, I have taken my focus off of You and placed it on myself. Help me not to give in to the promptings of others to change what in my heart You are making very clear to me. I worship You, I adore You and I love You. Come and dwell in me now.

-God's Blue Book, January 17, 1994

 

  

  

                R. Sacrifice is demanded if
                    one is to go into
                    religious life!

                The religious life is under
                    the 3 vows of
                    poverty, chastity and
                    obedience –

                This demands one is
                    self-disciplined –

                One is not giving into the deadly
                    sins –

                One is working in love in
                    the community –

                There is happiness to give one's
                    life –

                The religious life is to be
                    the Spouse of Jesus and
                    love and serve Him –
                    like Mary and Jesus did.

                We were created to know, love and
                    serve God –

                Our desire to be happy leads us
                    to God the Creator –


  Prayer for Union with Jesus

Come to me, Lord, and possess my soul. Come into my heart and permeate my soul. Help me to sit in silence with You and let You work in my heart.

    I am Yours to possess. I am Yours to use. I want to be selfless and only exist in You. Help me to spoon out all that is me and be an empty vessel ready to be filled by You. Help me to die to myself and live only for You. Use me as You will. Let me never draw my attention back to myself. I only want to operate as You do, dwelling within me.

    I am Yours, Lord. I want to have my life in You. I want to do the will of the Father. Give me the strength to put aside the world and let You operate my very being. Help me to act as You desire. Strengthen me against the distractions of the devil to take me from Your work.

    When I worry, I have taken my focus off of You and placed it on myself. Help me not to give in to the promptings of others to change what in my heart You are making very clear to me. I worship You, I adore You and I love You. Come and dwell in me now.

-God's Blue Book, January 17, 1994

 

                R. Do we want to be Selfish or
                    Selfless?

 

Excerpt from Response to God's Love by Fr. Edward Carter, S.J.

    ... In reference to Christianity, God himself is the ultimate mystery. Radically, God is completely other and transcendent, hidden from man in his inner life, unless he chooses to reveal himself. Let us briefly look at this inner life of God.

    The Father, in a perfect act of self-expression, in a perfect act of knowing, generates his son. The Son, the Word, is, then, the immanent expression of God's fullness, the reflection of the Father. Likewise, from all eternity, the Father and the Son bring forth the Holy Spirit in a perfect act of loving.

    At the destined moment in human history, God's self-expression, the Word, immersed himself into man's world. God's inner self-expression now had also become God's outer self-expression. Consequently, the mystery of God becomes the mystery of Christ. In Christ, God tells us about himself, about his inner life, about his plan of creation and redemption. He tells us how Father, Son, and Holy Spirit desire to dwell within us in the most intimate fashion, how they wish to share with us their own life through grace. All this he has accomplished and does accomplish through Christ.

end of excerpt

  

 

                R. A person with a closed spirit
                    does not relate in
                    relationships with
                    others very good.
 

                R. We were created to love –

                A man with a hard heart
                    gets more and more angry
                    because he is a
                    rival to God's will.
                    So he gets angrier and
                    angrier for opposing
                    God's will!

                God created us to be
                    happy and loving.
   

Nicene Creed

I believe in one God,
     the Father almighty,
     maker of heaven and earth,
     of all things visible and invisible.

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
     the Only Begotten Son of God,
     born of the Father before all ages,
     God from God, Light from Light,
     true God from true God,
     begotten, not made,
    consubstantial with the Father;
     through him all things were made.
     For us men and for our salvation
        he came down from heaven:

     and by the Holy Spirit
     was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.

     For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
        he suffered death, and was buried.
        and rose again on the third day
           in accordance of the Scriptures.
        He ascended into heaven
           and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
        He will come again in glory
           to judge the living and the dead,
        and his kingdom will have no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
      who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
      who with the Father and the Son
      is worshiped and glorified.
      who has spoken through the prophets.
      I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
      I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins
      and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
        and the life of the world to come. Amen.

   

Apostles Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell; on the third day he arose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven; and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

 

 

 

                R. Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit are

            Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel,
            Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety
            and Fear of the Lord 

                Sing: Veni Sancte Spiritus
 

    From the Lectionary

                        Pentecost Sequence

Come, Holy Spirit, come!
And from your celestial home
    Shed a ray of light divine!

Come, Father of the poor!
Come, source of all our store!
    Come, within our bosoms shine!

You, of comforters the best;
You, the soul's most welcome guest;
    Sweet refreshment here below;

In our Labor, rest most sweet;
Grateful coolness in the heat;
    Solace in the midst of woe.

O most blessed Light divine,
Shine within these hearts of yours,
    And our inmost being fill!

Where you are not, man has naught,
Nothing good in deed or thought,
    Nothing free from taint of ill!

Heal our wounds, our strength renew;
On our dryness pour your dew;
    Wash the stains of guilt away;

Bend the stubborn heart and will;
Melt the frozen, warm the chill;
    Guide the steps that go astray.

On the faithful, who adore
And confess you, evermore
    In your sev'nfold gift descend;

Give them virtue's sure reward;
Give them your salvation, Lord;
    Give them joys that never end. Amen.
Alleluia.



                   

 

Blue Book Blow Out for Christmas

Give the gift that keeps giving this Christmas 

6 different Blue Books for $30.00 including postage 


$6.00


$5.00


$4.00


$2.00


$2.00


$3.00


$3.00


$3.00


$3.00


$3.00


$3.00


$3.00


$3.00


$3.00


$3.00

   Books available in limited supply for this sale.

 

   

Blue Book Blow Out for Christmas

Blue Book 1 – $6.00 each plus postage

Blue Book 2 – $5.00 each plus postage

Blue Book 3 – $4.00 each plus postage

 

 

Blue Books 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6A, B, C – 
$3.00 each plus postage

  

Blue Books 4 & 5 –$2.00 each plus postage

 

The more you use the Blue Books and
    become one with Jesus – more
    intimate with Jesus –
    the more your lives are a blessing and
    everything you do in life can help
    to bring down great grace for the world
    because of your being so
    one with Jesus.

 

Guiding Light Homily Book Series

Fr. Joe’s Books


Cycle A –
Steadfast to the Son


Cycle B –
Focusing on the Word


Cycle C –
Feed My Soul

 
Cycle A – 
Inspired to be Genuine

4 for $20 plus postage of $5.95 

 

These books can be given to:

1) All Priests

       2) Good for Music Ministers
       3) Good for DRE's
       4) Good for Deacons
       5) Good for Principals of Schools
       6) Good for Teachers
       7) Good for Mom and Dads

     

     
Give the gift that keeps giving this Christmas!!

This statue was handmade and hand-painted
and has a little piece of the glass
from the image face of Mary –

PV-Fatima
w/glass - 27
 		PV-Fatima
w/glass - 18
 		PV-Fatima
w/glass - 15
 		OL-Fatima
w/glass - 18
 		PV-Fatima
w/glass - 12
 		OL-Fatima
w/glass - 11
OL-Guadalupe
w/glass - 28

OL-Grace
w/glass - 24

 		OL-Mt. Carmel
w/glass - 24

OL-Lourdes
w/glass - 24
 

IH-Mary
w/glass - 24

IH-Ivory
w/glass - 24

SH-Jesus
w/glass - 24
 SH-Blessing
w/glass - 24
 		Sorrow M
w/glass - 24
 		Inf.-Prague
w/glass - 24

OL-Lourdes
w/glass - 18

OL-Mt. Carmel
w/glass - 18

I Heart
w/glass - 18

I Heart - Ivory
w/glass - 18

OL-Grace
w/glass - 18

 SH-Jesus
w/glass - 18
 OL-Guadalupe
w/glass - 12
 		 

We cannot get these statues any more –
the men making them were from
Portugal and no longer do so

We will have a limited number
until they are gone –

These statues are a treasure, a work of art

At the end of this message are healings
from statues and the Jesus
and Mary waters – 

   

   

 

                Given March 21, 2014

                R. Pray for These Things

                1) Pray for the Pope & hierarchy to help us start prayer chapters.
                2) Pray for Dan, Sally Jo, Richard, Carol, Margaret, Sue,
                    Jack, Jean, Amanda, Matthew, Special intentions.
                3) Pray for the priests, the Church and the world!
                4) Pray for the spread of prayer chapters,
                    also for the spread of priests doing prayer chapters.
                5) Pray for the spread of Blue Books.
                6) People going to Florida and China.
                7) Vocations to all 7 categories.
                8) Pray for spread of Consecration and Rosary.
                9) Pray for pope helping us.
               10) Pray for Jeff - sales & health. Pray for Nick.
               11) Blue Book 14 cover; Blue Book 13 – all involved.
                    For our Publisher and all involved
               12) All intentions on my list, Jerry's list.
               13) Priests getting Fr. Joe's book.
               14) Pray for Fr. Joe's new book, cover & funds for printing & postage.
               15) Donors and members and their families.
               16) Healing of the Family tree.
               17) Dan & Melanie, Catherine & mom, Gary, Mary Jo,
                    Jim & statues, Fr. Ken, Monsignor, Kerry, Tom & wife.
               18) All who asked us to pray for them.
               19) All we promised to pray for.
               20) Rita, John, Doris, Sheila, Jerry, Regina, Sanja,
                    Betty, Sophie, Lisa, Eileen, Fr. Mike, Louie, Laverne,
                    2 Dons, Mary Ellen, Fr. Joe, all priests helping us,
                    Ed, Jimmy, Steve, a special couple, Rosie & all involved.
               21) 2 babies and moms.
               22) Funds and insurance.
               23) Jerry's garage.
               24) In thanksgiving for gifts, graces, & blessings received.
               25) Spread the Blood of Jesus on all of us here.
               26) Consecrate all hearts.
               27) Cast the devil out of all of us here and all in Movement.

 

 

We need money for
Fr. Joe's new homily book
(we sent almost 40,000 to priests,
cardinals, bishops)
Can you please help us?
888-211-3041

    
 

 The Wedding Rosary 

Crystal Image Rosary

$40 plus shipping

 

Special First Communion Rosary with Image Center

in a gift box

white     blue     red

and an 8 x 10 picture of Our Lady of Clearwater
and a 4 x 6 picture of Our Lady of Clearwater

$10 plus postage

 

 

Original Image Rosary

8mm glass beads
in a matching gift box

$40 plus shipping

 

 

 

Special Sale Statues with image glass

 

15" Pilgrim Virgin Fatima – $85

12" Our Lady of Fatima – $75

 plus shipping
while supplies last

Call Regina 1–727–776–2763
Call Rosie 888–211–3041

 

 

In Spanish with the Imprimatur

Also we are ready to print
5000 copies of the
Parents and Children's Rosary Book
in SPANISH.
Can you help with a donation?

  

Give the gift that counts.

                Give to your priests Fr. Carter's Books plus postage.

Tell My People                    $5.00
Response to God's Love    $8.00
Response in Christ              $8.00

   

  

    God's Blue Books 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 6C, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13
        $4.00 each plus postage


Blue Book 4


Blue Book 5


Blue Book 6A


Blue Book 6B


Blue Book 6C


Blue Book 7


Blue Book 8


Blue Book 9


Blue Book 10


Blue Book 11

 
Blue Book 12 & 13

 

Old Mass Books with the Imprimatur 
$2.00 plus postage

New Mass Book with Imprimatur   
$8.00 plus postage

New Parents & Children's Book with the Imprimatur
$8.00 plus postage

Fr. Joe's Cycle A – Steadfast to the Sun – Starts in Advent
$5.00 plus postage

Give the gift that keeps on giving!

Give to your priest.


Fr. Carter's Priestly Newsletters Book II
$6.00 plus postage

     

Special sale statue with glass

27" Statue of Our Lady of Fatima
$175 plus postage

 

Get a canvas print of Mary's image
with a sliver of glass and a little
bottle of Jesus and Mary water.
The glass will be fixed behind the
back of the picture.
$200.00 plus postage

Dan called and gave the report to me, when I hung up I saw this rainbow and took a picture for him.

Shepherds of Christ Ministries   P.O. Box 627  China, Indiana 47250

Telephone: (toll free) 1-888-211-3041 or (812) 273-8405   FAX: (812) 273-3182

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