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Mary: Jesus came, born in a stable in Bethlehem.

Above a star shown in the sky.

Song: Live This Day

January 27, 1992

I can never live the
moments of this day again.

When I go to bed
today is gone forever.

I must choose to treasure
each moment because
it is the only moment I have and
it only lasts one moment.

From a Lenten Homily, March 24, 2000

Live in the Moment

Today’s Gospel in its story certainly points ahead to Jesus in His Passion and death. And as we read passages such as this during the Lenten season, we are reminded once again that the Church in her Liturgy of the Word gives us an opportunity to undergo a purification, an ever deepening cleansing of ourselves so that we may be a more fit instrument for receiving the great graces which are to be given to us at the time of the Resurrection memorial on Easter. And so all in all, Lent is a time of purification to prepare us for ever-greater gifts of the Lord. It’s a time of self-discipline, a time to renew our efforts to be self-disciplined in the service of the Lord. Self-discipline is an aspect of purification. And I suggest that one of the most difficult acts of self-discipline in the spiritual journey is to concentrate on the present moment. We have a very strong tendency to disregard the importance of the present moment by focusing in a wrong way on the past or in a wrong way on the future. There are proper occasions for thinking of the past and the future. For example, we have to learn from the past and we have to prepare for the future, but our great emphasis has to be upon the present. There is a Latin axiom which says, age quod agis, age quod agis, which means: do what you are doing, concentrate on the present. And of course we are familiar with that term in the history of spirituality: the sacrament of the present moment. And so the discipline of Lent certainly encourages us to include in a deeper self-discipline a greater determination to get as much as we can out of the present moment. People with a terminal illness have an opportunity as they prepare for death for increased prayer, contrition, love of God. However, some are taken very, very quickly. But for those who have the opportunity of knowing with some certainty the time of their death, I’m sure as they look back on their lives, they are saddened by the many times they did not use time and opportunities for the service of the Lord properly, and are overjoyed at those times in which they did use the present opportunity properly. A great means we have of living in the present properly is a greater focus upon our Lord. For if I have that awareness of the fact I am united with Jesus here and now, why should I be concerned so much about the future or the past? Yes, a great help in living in the present and deriving all the good we can from it for ourselves and others is an ever greater focus upon Jesus, because the more I focus upon Jesus and the more I live with Him in the present moment, the more I am satisfied with the present moment. And so let us in our Lenten activity resolve to grow in that self-discipline - which is very difficult at times - to really live in the presence with the fullness of our being as much as is possible, with the help of God’s grace. Now is the day of salvation. Now is the day of salvation. ^{^{end of Father Carter's homily}}

R. Today is the day the Lord has made.

Jesus: I love you My precious ones.

The Presentation

1. Luke 2: 25-35

Now in Jerusalem there was a man named Simeon. He was an upright and devout man; he looked forward to the restoration of Israel and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he had set eyes on the Christ of the Lord. Prompted by the Spirit he came to the Temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the Law required, he took him into his arms and blessed God; and he said:

    Now, Master, you are letting
        your servant go in peace
    as you promised;
    for my eyes have seen the salvation
    which you have made ready
        in the sight of the nations;
    a light of revelation for the gentiles
    and glory for your people Israel.

As the child’s father and mother were wondering at the things that were being said about him, Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘Look, he is destined for the fall and for the rise of many in Israel, destined to be a sign that is opposed—and a sword will pierce your soul too — so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare.'

2. Song: Little Baby Hands and Feet

3. Song: See the Eyes that Look at Mary

4. The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Prophesy of Simeon

R. Mary and Joseph took the child Jesus into the Temple. Simeon had been told by the Holy Spirit that before he died he would see the Messiah. The Holy Spirit led him into the temple and he saw Mary and Joseph and Jesus. He went over and held the child Jesus. Then he said that he was ready to die and he told Mary that a sword, too, shall pierce your heart, Mary! From that point on, whenever she looked at the child Jesus, she remembered the prophecy of Simeon of how Jesus would suffer. Think of looking at your child and knowing what Mary knew! Her heart through her whole life knew this prophecy. And a sword, too, shall pierce your Heart, O Mary!

5. The Flight into Egypt

R. Joseph and Mary had to flee into Egypt with Jesus. And a sword, too, shall pierce your Heart, O Mary!

6. The Loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple

R. When Jesus was twelve years old they took Him to the Temple for the Feast of the Passover. When it was over, Joseph and Mary left with the caravan and Jesus had been left behind. When they realized that Jesus was not with them, they returned with their hearts sorrowing in search of the child Jesus. And a sword, too, shall pierce your Heart, O Mary!

7. On the Way to Calvary Jesus and Mary's eyes Met

R. The intimacy in that look between the Son and His Mother! The immense love between the two Hearts! The love that these two Hearts have for us and the call of both Jesus and Mary this day to come back to the love of God!

Song: See the Eyes that Look at Mary

8. Mary stood under the Cross as Jesus Died

R. I saw Jesus appear. Jesus loves us so dearly! It is Divine Love He has to outpour to us this day. He wants to give us an outpouring of His grace and love. He remains with us in the Tabernacle truly present in His Divinity and humanity. Jesus Christ, the same Jesus that died on the cross, is present and in our midst this very moment. God loves us so much that He remains with us this day! God is so good to us!

9. Jesus is taken down from the Cross and laid in Mary's Arms

R. See Mary under the cross and they give to her the lifeless body of her Son. She touches her Son and she knows that His body is dead. See that picture so clearly, the picture of the Pieta that you see so much. Think of Mary as she holds the infant child in a horizontal position in her arms and now she holds His lifeless body under the cross. In that picture, if you visualize that, there is so much to see. See the love of the Father that He sent His only begotten Son into this world; God became a man because He loves us so much. See the love that the Son had that He truly gave His flesh and His blood for each one of us. To His death Jesus gave His all for love of us. And Mary, see her with the tears on her face. How can you describe the pain in her heart to hold her Son now lifeless in her arms? Mary is our loving Mother. Mary is my loving Mother. She calls out to us, the Most loving Mother that we could ever imagine! Jesus gave His very own Mother to us! She is calling out to each one of us here, who have been called here this night by Jesus and Mary, to make a commitment to consecrate ourselves to these two Hearts; to be soldiers in this world with our hearts filled with His love! We receive so much grace from sitting in front of the Tabernacle. Pray to be apostles and be able to go out into this world and spread these messages! Pray for the grace from the Holy Spirit to be transformed from fear to fearlessness and to carry the Gospel message with us everywhere we go! What radiates from our being is the love of the God that lives within. She is calling us to grow ever closer in union with Jesus. The greatest thing we can do for this world is to be united to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in our hearts, to let Him operate us, to surrender ourselves, to follow the Plan of the Father, the unique plan God has for us to be His soldiers, to march on a world that has forgotten God. But the Power of the Almighty God is Power that cannot be contained. And in our every smile and glance, this love radiates from our being and we touch every person that we look at when we are united to God!

10. Jesus is Locked in the Tomb

R. The cold reality that now Jesus is locked in the tomb and a stone is rolled in front of the tomb and Mary weeps outside so bitterly. But death has no power over Jesus! Locked in the tomb for three days, on the third day He rose triumphant to give us new life. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus rose on the third day. The Might of God cannot be contained! His life He pours out to us! He gives us a special sharing in His life in the sacrament of Baptism. He has provided for us so well through the Church. We are His chosen ones! Can we not spread this message to this world that is hurting - that is looking in every nook and cranny for something to satisfy the stocking soul? The only thing that satisfies the soul is the love of God! He calls out to us this day to carry this message to every person we meet for it is in our glance, it is in our smile, that we truly will spread His Gospel message, His love to this world.

The Finding in the Temple

1. When Jesus was 12 years old Mary, Joseph and Jesus went up to the Temple for the Feast of Passover. When it was time to leave Jesus was lost in the Temple.

2. Think of Mary and Joseph's sorrow to not be able to find Jesus. They looked for 3 days and found Jesus talking to the doctors in the Temple.

3. We cannot predict what is going to happen in our lives. We can plan, but we cannot say unreservedly what is going to happen.

Mary and Joseph did not know all they would have to suffer in their lives, but they kept serving God and living to do God's will. We cannot predict everything that will happen in our lives.

4. In Blue Book 2 Jesus tells us about surrendering, surrender, surrender, surrender He says. Why do we surrender many times and pray? What else can we do many times. A child dying with cancer can be so hard and parents who love them might need to put everything on hold to deal with this,

5. Maybe all the daily ways we need to surrender might not be this difficult, but many things work when we are ready to deal with things we cannot control and move toward a solution according to God's will. Life is like this, we get older, we aren't the same, even playing golf for a man in his 70's may be a big surprise!!

6. Mary tells us many of her children are lost spiritually. Mary is our spiritual Mother. The Holy Spirit Sanctifies our soul. The evil spirit wants to take our soul for all eternity Mary says.

7. When Mary appeared daily, she cried out about all the souls going to everlasting damnation. Mary begged for us to pray and to reach the souls. This was 27 years ago. Think of what is going on now, fighting wars in countries, babies being aborted, the sin in the world - this is 27 years later.

Do you see how evil is growing? Mary's children are children to her, even when old. Mary said so many souls will be lost if they don't stop sinning mortally and ask God for forgiveness, with a firm purpose of amendment.

Mary by day
July 5, 2000
by night
July 5, 2000

8. Mary was sent by God to warn us, we need to convert, Mary told us to spread the devotion to the Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart and pray the rosary. Jesus told us to pray these Shepherds of Christ Prayers.

9. This message was given to Fr. Carter, Fr. Carter said from Jesus.

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July 31, 1994

Words of Jesus to Members of Shepherds of Christ Associates:

"My beloved priest-companion, I intend to use the priestly newsletter, Shepherds of Christ, and the movement, Shepherds of Christ Associates, in a powerful way for the renewal of My Church and the world.

"I will use the newsletter and the chapters of Shepherds of Christ Associates as a powerful instrument for spreading devotion to My Heart and My Mother's Heart.

"I am calling many to become members of Shepherds of Christ Associates. To all of them I will give great blessings. I will use them as instruments to help bring about the triumph of the Immaculate Heart and the reign of My Sacred Heart. I will give great graces to the members of Shepherds of Christ Associates. I will call them to be deeply united to My Heart and to Mary's Heart as I lead them ever closer to My Father in the Holy Spirit."

- Message from Jesus to Father Edward J. Carter, S.J., Founder, as given on July 31, 1994,
feast of Saint Ignatius Loyola, Founder of the Society of Jesus (The Jesuits)



10. March 15, 1998

Jesus: I come to you that I will lead you from the darkness into the light. It is through you that the world will majorly be brought into oneness. As the holy family of the Father, you must model your life after Me. I am your brother, Jesus Christ, the Son of God. You are to be brothers for one another that you will lay down your life for one another. This is what I ask of you.

God the Father: I am the Father, Mary is your Mother. Jesus is your Brother. I come to you and I ask you to unite as My holy family.